Work to heal decades of neglect

Planning work has begun to help rehabilitate an abandoned mine site at Croydon in north west Queensland, Minister for Mines and Energy Geoff Wilson said today.

“While we reap the benefits of the resources boom we should not turn our back on those old mines that helped forge our strong economy,” Mr Wilson said.

“Some of those old mine sites are a legacy of decades of neglect that saw mining companies move in, make their millions and move out,” he said.

Croydon is a small mining town in the heart of the Gulf Savannah. When gold was discovered there in 1885, its population grew to 7,000 making it the fourth largest town in Queensland.

Gold was extracted from the region for more than 40 years. By 1906 the mine was exhausted and twenty years later operations shut down.

Minister Wilson said $1.3 million had been set aside in this year’s budget for a water treatment program and for studies into a long-term rehabilitation program for the Croydon site.

“The water treatment program will help improve the water quality downstream of the Federation Mine at Croydon,” Mr Wilson said.

“A study will be undertaken to define further rehabilitation works needed to address any risks relating to soil and groundwater contamination, and surface run-off from abandoned mines at the Croydon site,” he said.

“A special meeting will be held next month to review the site risks and develop options to deal with them.

“The next step will be to develop engineering designs to manage leachate from the Federation waste rock dump.

“Monitoring activities will be increased at the old Croydon mine site to guide the rehabilitation work,” he said.

Member for Mount Isa Betty Kiernan welcomed the funds to rehabilitate the old mine site at Croydon.

“I have also asked that the funds be spent in consultation with local stakeholders so that actions taken will be in the best interests of the community,” he said.

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