The NSW Environment Protection Authority has entered into a legally binding Enforceable Undertaking (EU) with Cadia Holdings Pty Ltd, owners and operators of the Cadia Gold Mine, worth over $320,000.
The EU will see Cadia provide $307,500 to support the construction of five new permanent dust monitoring stations to boost the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water’s Rural Dust Monitoring Network.
NSW EPA Executive Director of Operations Steve Beaman said this is a significant contribution which will improve dust monitoring coverage for the Central West of NSW.
“Enforceable Undertakings hold companies legally accountable for addressing environmental issues or alleged breaches and provide tangible benefits to the community and the environment,” Mr Beaman said.
“Cadia's commitment will now allow for new DustTrak monitors to be installed, which will measure PM10, PM2.5, visibility, oxides of nitrogen and ozone, and increase the dust monitoring network to more than 40 monitors statewide.
“In addition to the funds for new dust monitors, Cadia will also be required to pay $25,000 to the EPA for its investigative and legal costs incurred following two dust emission incidents from the mine’s tailings storage facility in 2022.
“Since these incidents, Cadia has acted to minimise dust events, including installing an irrigation system on their northern tailings storage facility, and is continuing work to manage dust emissions in the long term.”
Data from the Rural Air Monitoring Network can be viewed at Air quality concentration data | Air Quality NSW
The EPA commenced prosecution proceedings in the NSW Land and Environment Court against Cadia concerning two dust events from its the tailing storage facilities in October 2022. These proceedings have been discontinued.
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