Mining A summary of mining operations for the BBB is included in Table 4 . As at December 2015 :
• Pelican Creek sub catchment contained 3 coal mines ( Collinsville Coal Mine , Jax Coal Mine and Sonoma Coal Mine );
• Bogie River sub catchment - one operating gold mine ( Mt Carlton Mine ); and
• Rosella Creek sub catchment – one operating coal mine ( Newlands Coal ). There are also estimated to be 119 abandoned mines . The distribution of these mining activities is shown in Figure 6 .
Table 4 . Bowen-Broken-Bogie Catchment special site potential water quality impacts . |
Source : Buchan ( 2016 ), derived from DNRM data . |
Potential Source |
Site Type |
Sub-catchment |
Local asset at risk |
Species / Process at risk |
Mt Carlton Mine |
Operating Mine |
Bogie |
Local Creeks |
Bio-accumulation and metal toxicity , Suspended sediment |
Collinsville Coal Mine
Operating Mine |
Pelican |
Local Creeks |
Coal dust in water |
|
|
|
column and |
|
|
|
bedload |
Jax Coal Mine |
Operating Mine |
Pelican |
Local Creeks |
Coal dust in water column and bedload |
Sonoma Coal Mine |
Operating Mine |
Pelican |
Local Creeks |
Coal dust in water column and bedload |
Newlands Coal |
Operating Mine |
Rosella |
Local Greeks , |
|
|
|
Groundwater , |
|
|
|
Bowen River |
Cumulative ( 119 ) Abandoned mines All Not yet assessed Erosion
Heavy metal ecotoxicity and coal dust smothering
Where mining impacts or risks are high , there is usually information in mine approval or operational management plans associated with their licensing . However , comprehensive research into the cumulative effects and unlicensed risks of mines to waters in the region is yet to be undertaken .
Possibly the most significant mining related water quality issues for the region and GBR in this region are gully and stream bank erosion , disrupted waterway and aquifer hydrology , mining associated infrastructure development and storm event driven mobilisation of toxic minerals or chemicals .
Examples of key water quality and related hydrological issues associated with mining in the region are drawn from mining and associated infrastructure EISs documentation Adani and Abbot Point 2010-2015 and include :
• Disruption of groundwater and surface water hydrology to land form changes and groundwater pumping .
• Consumptive water use for dust suppression , on site processing or human settlement
• Disposal of water accumulating in the mine or diversion of water to prevent mine flooding
• Potential failure of mine liquid waste holding ponds or leachate from surface stockpiles
• Aerial transmission of mine dust onto local water bodies or land from where it can be washed off by rain
• Erosion of de-vegetated or disrupted sites
• Chemical and petrochemical spills
• Licensed wastewater discharges to waterways
• The potential impacts of associated infrastructure including power , water supply , roads , rail , ports and urban development .
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