Mine Name: Gidgee
State: Western Australia
Status: Historic
Mineral: Gold
Brief description of impact/history:
*Warning: Photos of animals in distress below
The Gidgee mine site is in the East Murchison/ Northern Goldfields of WA is situated on Gidgee Station, between the Youno Downs Station (an operating Cattle Station) and Yeelirrie Station (a proposed uranium mine). Nearby mines include Magellan lead mine, Mt Keith nickle mine and the Wiluna gold mine. The area is now inundated with uranium exploration projects.
There has been a series of company hand overs at Gidgee since the mine began operation in 1988 by Australian Resources Limited, in 1999 Abelle Limited took over operations until 2003 when Harmony Gold briefly mined there before selling to Legend Mining also in 2003. Legend operated the mine until 2005 when the gold price began falling and operating costs rose and they put the mine into care and maintenance. APEX Minerals bought the Gigdee project in 2007 but never began any of their plans to mine there, the sold the project on in 2011 to Panaromic Resources. The site is in care and maintenance for it’s 9th year (June 2014)
Local complaints about the sites current state is the lack of dust control and fencing. As you can see in the photo’s below there is pollution spreading from the tailings dust. The lack of fencing has led to a number of cattle deaths – cattle are attracted into the open pits by the water where they then get bogged. It also a possibility that they are ingesting heavy metals (Photo’s of cattle have been provided by Youno Downs Station).
On a site visit in 2011 there was clear evidence of erosion, salinity and pollution along with dust and impacts on cattle.
Although the 1990s was supposed to have decent environmental regulation and rehabilitation standards, the dust storm from the tailings dam is a major hazard as well as the direct access the cattle have to the former pit. So much for modern industry performance! Recent exploration has found more gold ore, leading to the prospect of it being re-opened very soon – perhaps they might even get the regulation and performance right this time.
