|
Council continues to monitor water quality in the Macleay following the discharge from the Hillgrove Mine site surface water retention dams due to rainfall events. The upper Macleay river is scattered with known deposits of mineral resources. In addition to Hillgrove there are numerous old mine sites which operated in the past and are now abandoned.
Water sampling during the overflow events has revealed that only slightly elevated levels of arsenic and antimony were in the water sampled. The levels of arsenic observed were within the background levels previously observed by Council.
Councils water treatment plant ensures that water processed is in accordance with Australian Drinking Water standards. The levels observed in the river are below the relevant guidelines for recreational and agricultural use.
The catchment has been the subject of a thorough water quality study and there is a significant level of information on this topic. This process has been occurring over 150 years and materials are evident in swamps on the lower Macleay as they have been mobilized by floods.
Council will continue to monitor the situation, in partnership with NSW Health and Office of Environment and Heritage. To this end Council has resolved to support the formation of a multi-agency committee to review current documentation and studies and support further research and actions to better understand and minimize the impacts.
The Office of Environment and Heritage is working directly with the mine site owner to improve onsite water management. Straits have been cooperative and have voluntarily committed to establishing more plant onside to increase evaporation.
Generally it is life as usual in the Macleay and council will work with the agencies and community to minimise any ongoing impacts. |
