EPA approves Renison tin mine’s waste backfill proposal
A tin mine on Tasmania’s west coast has been given approval to pump waste back into its underground workings rather than build a new tailings facility. LATEST >>
West Coast
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RATHER than build a new tailings facility, a tin mine on Tasmania’s west coast will pump waste back into its workings to fill in mined out areas.
The Environment Protection Authority has finished its assessment of by Bluestone Mines Tasmania Joint Venture’s waste proposal for its Renison Bell mine near Rosebery.
The proposed paste backfill plant will redirect tailings from the existing tin process plant for
dewatering and processing into filter cake.
The filter cake will then be stored and combined with cement in a batch process before being piped underground to stabilise mined out areas of the underground operations.
EPA Director Wes Ford concluded the proposed development could be managed in an environmentally sustainable and acceptable manner, with certain conditions.
The Board requires these conditions to be included in any permit subsequently granted by the West Coast Council.
“Various environmental issues were considered - particularly the potential for material spills. Management and containment measures will be required by the environmental conditions to be imposed,” Mr Ford said.
The EPA’s decision comes as controversy continues over Rosebery mine owner MMG’s decision to push on with its plan to build a new tailings facility on its lease near Tullah.
The Bob Brown Foundation said MMG could also backfill its mine with tailings rather than clear forest to build a new dam.
But MMG said the option of a paste fill facility at the Rosebery Mine has been thoroughly explored and ruled out due to a combination of environmental, geological, operational and extreme safety constraints.
“The 85-year-old underground mine is not designed to cope with paste fill and doing so would destabilise mine workings and place our workforce at direct risk of harm,” the company said last week.
No representations were received in relation to Bluestone Mines Tasmania’s permit application.
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