|
Assistant Director of Environment, Ken Hollands and Carolyn Bloch, Executive Director Department Mineral Resources headed the 10 strong unit of officers conducting an inspection sweep of the Lightning Ridge opal mining region.
This initiative is being undertaken following a considerable planning process to tighten up on the rehabilitation and environmental requirements of mining.
The team will comprise six environmental and four safety officers.
They will be divided into teams and over a week will visit around 600 of the opal claims with weekly follow-ups planned for the remainder of the year.
“The aim of this project is educational rather than punitive. We want to encourage people to co-operate when it comes to the rehabilitation of this historic mining area,” said Mr Coutts, Director General of the Department of Mineral Resources.
“Lightning Ridge is an important part of the NSW minerals industry and we need to ensure the best environmental standards for this important mining area.”
Of the 6500 claims in Lightning Ridge 600 of these are worked by 750 people on any one day.
“DMR environmental staff will examine disposal of mullock or dirt, from the mining operations, disposal of rubbish, noxious weed growth, regeneration of native plants and abandoned cars and trucks on the claims,” said Mr Coutts.
“At each claim, officers will fill out a simple, one page report which will be given to the claim holder with a list of recommended improvements.
“The other will be retained by the Department to ensure appropriate follow up of recommendations.
“The Lightning Ridge Miners Association and the Glengarry, Grawin, Sheepyards Miners Association both support this important initiative, which benefits the local community and the environment,” said Mr Coutts.
Improving the image of the region with the co-operation of the LRMA, GGSMA, is part of our aim,” said Director of Environment, Ken Hollands.
“A perfect example of what can be achieved is the rehabilitation exercise conducted by Les Peardon on Sims Hill a number of years ago.
“This was a perfect example and earned him an award of for his efforts,” he said.
“We are not going in with a big stick, rather we see it as an education process and an opportunity to pass on experience gained throughout the state with the end result being a conscious awareness of our responsibility to the environment,” Mr Hollands concluded.
|
