Collingwood Tin mine remediation project
The Collingwood Tin mine, 35 kilometres south of Cooktown, operated between 2005 and 2008. It was then disclaimed in 2015. The site was incorporated into the Abandoned Mine Lands Program in 2017, leading to care and maintenance and progressive remediation of the site.
The site remediation strategy was designed in consultation with the Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation (JYAC) and a Nyungkulwarra Traditional Owner Elders sub-committee, to incorporate aspirations including suitability for future land uses on the Aboriginal freehold land previously disturbed by mining.
We continue to monitor revegetation of the site and efficacy of the remediation works.
- View a glossary of mining terms used on this page.
Project snapshot
Region: North Queensland
Location: 35km south of Cooktown and adjacent to the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area, latitude -15.763455, longitude 145.230621
Commodity: Tin
Mining type: Underground
Date of abandonment: June 2015
Status: Remediated, with ongoing monitoring
Native title interest: Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation
Public land registers: Listed on the Environmental Management Register and the Contaminated Land Register
Photo gallery
Key risks
Environmental risks associated with long-term residual risks associated with the remediated tailings storage facility and decant water dam.
Completed works
- Remediation of the drill core area, with consolidation and removal of crushed core and contaminated soil, and installation of drainage channels.
- Controlled water release program during the initial remediation stages to reduce onsite stored water inventory to prevent uncontrolled wet season spills.
- Removal of the abandoned processing plant and associated infrastructure, followed by landscaping and drainage improvements.
- Securing the entrance to the mine, using a metal grate to allow wildlife access.
- Sealing of the 5m wide, 196m deep vertical ventilation shaft.
- Tailings storage facility remediation including dewatering, reprofiling, capping, revegetation, and installation of surface drainage.
- Reducing the stored volume within the decant water dam and installation of suitably sized and armoured closure spillway.
As well as executing the on-ground works, the Collingwood Tin project excelled in the procurement space, winning 2 of the 6 categories in the Queensland Government’s 2022 Buy Queensland Buyer Awards. Key areas of excellence cited in delivering the objectives of the Queensland Procurement Policy were:
- Presence of local contractors (76%)
- Small to medium business (90%)
- Expenditure with indigenous-owned corporations (59%).
Planned works
- Periodic inspection and post-remediation water quality monitoring during the wet season.