Mount Chalmers remediation project
The Mount Chalmers mine began in 1890 as an underground copper, gold and silver mine and smelting operation. Larger-scale open-cut mining started in 1980 and ceased in 1982, after which the site was placed into care and maintenance. The former mine owner was subsequently placed into liquidation with liquidators disclaiming the site in December 2014.
The site includes an open-cut pit, waste rock and overburden dumps, some slag and tailings dumps, and a seepage collection sump.
There is a current exploration permit (minerals) over the site and a Mining Lease application.
- View a glossary of mining terms used on this page.
Project snapshot
Region: Central Queensland
Location: 1km east of the Mount Chalmers township and approximately 25km north-east of Rockhampton, Latitude -23.653305, Longitude 150.653305
Commodity: Gold, copper and silver
Mining type: Open cut
Date of abandonment: December 2014
Status: Care and maintenance with targeted remediation
Native title interest: Darumbal People Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC
Public land registers: Listed on the Environmental Management Register
Photo gallery
Key risks
Health and safety risks associated with open-cut pit.
Environmental risks associated with:
- contamination of water runoff that interacts with exposed acid forming waste rock and highwalls across site
- potential for overflow of onsite water storages, either during extreme events such as tropical cyclones, or due to accumulation of water.
Completed works
- Clean water diversion earthworks to reinstate drainage, and to redirect water away from the mine pit.
- Installation of solar-powered evaporation system to lower the pit water level over time.
- Implementation of routine site inspection, monitoring and maintenance.
- Public access restrictions including fencing, signage and cameras.
- Construction of a seepage sump to collect seepage and runoff prior to leaving site.
- Installation of a solar pumping system to transfer seepage sump water to the open-cut pit.
- Development of a site water balance model.
- Improvement to site drainage structures, including spillways on site water storages.
- Construction of new clean water diversion channels.
- Trial soil stabilisation and revegetation works on exposed soil batter slopes.
- Site telemetry and camera installed.
Planned works
- Ongoing site inspection, monitoring and maintenance/repair works.
- Further clean water diversion and earthworks.
- Updated water balance model.
- Camera upgrades.