Mount Chalmers remediation project

The Mount Chalmers mine began in 1890 as an underground copper, gold and silver mine and smelting operation. Larger-scale open-cut mining started in 1980 and ceased in 1982, after which the site was placed into care and maintenance. The former mine owner was subsequently placed into liquidation with liquidators disclaiming the site in December 2014.

• View a glossary of mining terms used on this page.

The site includes an open-cut pit, waste rock and overburden dumps, some slag and tailings dumps, and a seepage collection sump. A solar pumping system has been installed to pump seepage water from the sump into the open-cut pit.

There is a current exploration permit (minerals) over the site.

Photo gallery

Key risks

Health and safety risks associated with open-cut pit.

Environmental risks associated with:

• contamination of water runoff that interacts with exposed acid forming waste rock and highwalls across site
• potential for overflow of onsite water storages, either during extreme events such as tropical cyclones, or due to accumulation of water.

Completed works

• Implementation of routine site inspection, monitoring and maintenance
• Public access restrictions including fencing, signage and cameras
• Construction of a seepage sump to collect seepage and runoff prior to leaving site
• Installation of a solar pumping system to transfer seepage sump water to the open-cut pit
• Development of a site water balance model
• Improvement to site drainage structures, including spillways on site water storages
• Construction of new clean water diversion channels
• Trial soil stabilisation and revegetation works on exposed soil batter slopes

Planned works

• Ongoing site inspection, monitoring and maintenance