Government control when releasing poison water is okay

Controlled water release at Mount Morgan Mine site

Mount Morgan Mine is more than 400 kilometres by river away from the Fitzroy River and significant dilution will occur as water flows through the Dee and Don River.

Heavy rainfall forecast for the Capricornia district over the next few days will mean a controlled release of water from the abandoned Mount Morgan open cut mine site.

Abandoned Mine Lands officers will oversee a series of small controlled releases of water into the Dee River.

The government says controlled water release minimises uncontrolled release of toxic sludge into the Dee River.

700 millimetres fell over the Mount Morgan mine site between 23 - 26 January 2013 - the site’s annual rainfall in just three days.

The deluge caused the first uncontrolled discharge of untreated water from the open cut pit in the mine’s 131-year history. 

Further heavy rainfall of between 40-80mm per day is forecast for the area.

Controlled water release is the only option the government can think of to maintain site safety and minimise the risk of another uncontrolled water discharge and the  unacceptable environmental impacts that it causes downstream.

“The mine site’s rehabilitation management plan allows for controlled releases when significant rainfall events occur and the department has successfully managed previous controlled water releases on 25 January 2013 and twice in March 2011,” he said.

Dee River landholders downstream of Mount Morgan have been informed.

Mount Morgan Mine has a lime dosing water treatment plant and onsite evaporators to treat water and reduce water levels in the open cut pit.

The Government acknowledges ongoing management of Mt Morgan is a serious issue.

The Government acknowledges the local community had legitimate concerns.

[ENDS] 22 February 2013

Mines Minister Cripps has two public relationers to chat about the release of toxic material -  Jane Paterson 0417 281 754 or Paul Sutherland 0428 868 237

??? How much effort is going into the water treatment plant and facilitating evaporation to reduce the release of toxic stuff?