Government funds abandoned mines

THE New South Wales Government Legacy Mines program will receive a $107.7 million funding boost to remediate abandoned mine sites throughout the state over a ten year period.

Funding is part of the annual State budget, with only $2.8million spent on the program during the 2019-2020 financial year.

Member for the Upper Hunter David Layzell said although current funding does not apply to Upper Hunter mine projects, the announcement was made to ease public concern over future legacy mine impacts.

“During the by-election there was a bit of concern about what happens when companies go bust or when they don’t do the right thing over time and leave legacy problems for the community,” Mr Layzell said.

“All of the projects in the Upper Hunter are privately rehabilitated, but there’s still a concern about what happens if the community gets left with the problem. This announcement was to reinforce that there’s a government fund there that will take care of these old legacy projects,” he said.

“It’s a fund that will be built over time as need requires,” he said.

Since the Legacy Mine program’s inception in 1974, 645 mine sites have been identified, with sites that present a public safety or environmental risk to be given funding priority.

Projects are only considered for program funding when no person or company with direct responsibility for the rehabilitation can be located.

Deputy Premier John Barilaro said immediate funding will focus on locations where production ceased between 50 and 100 years ago.

“In places like Captains Flat and sites in the Central West and Northern Tablelands,” Mr Barilaro said.

“Intensive remediation at these locations will increase safety, reduce impacts to the environment, and reinvigorate land for other possible uses, such as for community parklands, to create tourist attractions, or accommodate select business operations,” he said.

For further information about the NSW Government’s Legacy Mines program, click here.