The potential use of cyanide at a goldmine in the headwaters of the Eurobodalla’s water
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supply has been labelled “terrifying”.
Earlier this week, Unity Mining suggested building a plant for cyanide processing at the Majors Creek goldmine.
Unity Mining’s announcement has already alarmed downstream food producers in the Eurobodalla, who want to keep the shire’s water catchment for up to 140,000 people in summer in pristine condition.
It comes after the mine’s operator was fined for polluting river catchments on three occasions last year.
Palerang councillor Paul Cockram said the proposal was terrifying for people in Eurobodalla Shire and Araluen Valley.
“This has far-reaching consequences not just for Palerang but for other shires on the coast,” he said.
“When you’ve got a mine that’s sitting atop a valley that grows fruit and has an economy based on growing things, if you have a dam breach it only has to happen once and then down the valley it goes.”
Cr Cockram said there was a groundswell of opposition growing and people were “just horrified” that the move was mooted out of the blue.
“I mean, they came here and stood in front of this community and said they were going to build a mine but ‘don’t worry, we’re not going to do any of the really nasty processing part - we’re going to send that somewhere else to get it done’,” he said.
“The whole game has changed as it’s going to be a totally different mine - it will be a noisier mine, bigger and more dangerous.”
But Unity Mining’s managing director Andrew McIlwain said concerns about the use of cyanide at the mine were unnecessary as the potentially toxic substance could be used safely if handled correctly.
“The Dick Dastardly bit about cyanide comes from spy movies and hangover from the Second World War,” he said.
“It’s potentially toxic but handled and managed in the right scenario, it is very safe.”
Mr McIlwain admitted the pollution during earthworks on the mine was not Unity’s finest hour.
“We have taken our 40 lashes and paid our fines,” he said.
“It is not something we are very proud of, but
circumstances were quite different.”
Mr McIlwain said previous plans involved 2200 trucks carrying ore from Braidwood to Parkes each year, while now six trucks would carry cyanide in
briquettes contained in cylinders.
“Before the solution leaves the processing facility, it is chemically destroyed and brought down to quite safe levels and discharged to a tailings facility,” he said.
“It breaks down under ultra-violet light. It breaks down over time and it doesn’t bio-accumulate. It is not like a heavy metal in the food stream.”
Araluen resident Jackie French described the move as “devastating”.
“The lead, zinc and uranium tailings that will now be left don’t appear to have been discussed and may be more insidious and dangerous than the cyanide,” she told the Bay Post/Moruya Examiner.
“What about the lead, zinc and uranium residues that would have been removed with the ore? They will now stay in site forever.
“Cyanide may be the least of the devastation.
“Please, for the sake of our children, say ‘no’ to cyanide, lead, zinc, uranium, and urge our councils to stand firm.”