Mine to use Local Water

Cadia Valley gold mine is set to proceed with its plan to use local water in its operations, with final tests being conducted in upcoming weeks.

The mine - situated at Spring’s Terrace near Blayney - acquired a local landholder’s water license last year enabling them to pump more than 990 mega-litres of water annually, enough to keep the mine running at a satisfactory standard for up to 50 days.

Landholders are outraged with the mine’s plans, including local resident Bazzle Baldwin who believes it may prove disastrous for neighbouring properties.

“Many of the people who live closer to this particular site where they’re planning to take water, have had concerns because when the bores have been run it’s affected the adjacent bores and so they’re very concerned that if the mine uses that water their bores would be affected,” he said.

Cadia Valley employs hundreds of locals, but is threatening the livelihoods of thousands of others

The mine’s owner, Newcrest Mining Limited, has been holding regular meetings with the residents of the Cabonne Shire, stressing their commitment to look after both land-holders and the environment.

Organiser of the meetings - General Manager of Cadia Tony McPaul – argues the company’s plans are harmless in all cases but believes it’s important to satisfy the requests of the local community.

“What we agreed to do was some pump tests on the bores. Those pump tests will start next week on the fifteenth. They’ll be drawn out tests originally, they’re one hour tests on the bores at different rates, and then on the eighteenth there’ll be a seven day pump test to see what impact if any it will have on the area,” he told 2BS Local News.

The water extraction process is likely to affect neighbouring towns such as Orange, with the water likely to be transported to the mine through one of Orange’s existing pipelines.

The water which plays a vital role in the gold filtering stage of production at the mine, comes at crucial time, with the mine expressing financial instability throughout much of last year as a result of the drought.

Mr McPaul has reminded residents of the significant role Cadia Valley plays in the area.  

“We’re the biggest employer in the area by far and I guess if there’s a real positive I can see for local people and land holders, it’s that during the drought we’ve had a lot of people off the land come and work for us to supplement their income…I’d like to think that we are benefiting the land holders and local area more than what people probably realize,” he said.