An aerial shot of Cadia goldmine in 2016. Photograph: Stuart Riles

Hi everyone,

When it comes to environmental pollutants, lead dust and other heavy metal contaminants are easily the most concerning. Their harmful and debilitating effects on human health and the environment have been extensively studied and documented. 

I want to share two examples of individuals and communities who have been impacted by heavy metal, including lead, and who will continue to be impacted for some while to come.

Something in the Home

Our first example is that of Tarago, a small NSW Southern Tablelands town that sits on a rail transportation corridor, previously used, amongst other things, for the transportation of lead ore from the former Woodlawn mine.

While Transport for NSW knew of a lead contamination problem in the area in 2015, it was not until February 2020 that residents were informed of the problem. Transport for NSW says it "dropped the ball" in not informing people of the risks. 

You have to wonder why they thought that an admission of ball dropping would address the fact that Christopher Curtis and his family found the lead presence in the family home was up to 15 times higher than safe levels and their 17-month-old baby had elevated levels of heavy metals in his blood!

And what did Transport for NSW do? Well, they offered free blood and soil tests and tested local supplies, the Tarago Public School, the train station and the main street. Results showed the risks from lead contamination at those sites were "low and acceptable". 

Just so we are all clear, the World Health Organisation clearly states "there is no safe level of lead". However it is clear that Government agencies believe some risk is acceptable. Presumably only if the authors of that statement do not live in the affected area! Offering free blood tests is not a solution. Stopping any contamination in the first place is the solution.

Something in the Water

Our second example is more recent. Cadia Hill is a small community about 15kms south of Orange in NSW. It is also home to Cadia Hill Gold Mine, the second largest of its type in the world.

Locals have suspected for some time that the dust created from the mine area was contaminated with heavy metals, including lead, and had tried to voice their concerns. Those concerns fell on deaf ears for the most part until quite recently. 

As the Guardian article says "that changed last week when the NSW Environment Protection Authority announced an investigation into the mine after dozens of local residents reported blood test results containing high levels of some heavy metals, including copper. It followed months of testing that found other heavy metals, including lead, in unsafe levels in household rainwater tanks."

The NSW Environment Protection Authority has now announced an investigation into the mine after dozens of local residents reported blood test results containing high levels of some heavy metals, including copper. It followed months of testing that found other heavy metals, including lead, in unsafe levels in household rainwater tanks.

Now here's the kicker in this tale.

This is not the first time that Cadia Mine has been found to have impacted the local community/environment. Their previous transgression was awarded the maximum fine possible by the EPA.

The maximum fine that the NSW Environmental Protection Agency can administer is...wait for it...$15,000! To pay that fine, Newcrest Mining would only have to refine and sell 5.35 ounces of Gold at today's prices! To put that into context, the Cadia Mine in 2021 produced 765,000 ounces of Gold. So the impact of the maximum fine levied is roughly the equivalent of 3 hours revenue for the whole year. 

Given the above, where is the incentive for Mining Companies to change their practices, beyond token fixes to keep the noise in the news cycle to a minimum?

Government is accountable to the people and we, the people, are responsible for electing them to positions of power. We need to raise awareness of failures in accountability, and ensure those responsible are held properly accountable, not through paltry fines that are less than 3 hours revenue equivalent!

We must advocate for transparency and clear accountability in mining management plans, sustainable practices that remove risks to communities and cancellation or stoppage of mines that fail to prove they can meet the standards.

We can and must strive for a safer, cleaner future for generations to come!