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Brukunga Treatment Plant

Operations conducted to intercept and treat acid water and to revegetate the 123 ha disused mine site at Brukunga cost approximately half a million dollars every year.

During the 2002 calendar year, Brukunga experienced the effects of the Australian wide drought. Lack of rainfall had a positive effect in that there was less polluted water to treat and hence substantial cost saving occurred. Power consumption halved saving $12k, lime payments reduced by $18k and annual sludge transfer halved saving $40k.

The complexity of water monitoring conducted at Brukunga requires continual attention to ensure that samples are collected and analysed at the appointed time, and that data is recorded in an appropriate manner. Because several groups are involved in different aspects of the work there is need for coordination and an overview to detect and reduce error and provide review.

Expenditure on the water monitoring program for 2002 was approximately $67,000. This total includes the cumulative load monitoring ($24,000), the biological monitoring ($31,000) and the spatial chemical monitoring ($11,000). The collection of rainfall, pump operation hours and water monthly samples is additional and part of general operating costs for the site.

Closure of the last redundant sludge pond resulted in a 20% decline in acid seepage from the toe of the Tailings Storage Facility (TSF). It is thought the drought will have contributed partially to this observed reduction.

A solar-panel 12-volt pump was installed in the well constructed to tap artesian water from the old farm-dam buried beneath the TSF. Water quality at pH 6.5 is used to irrigate vegetation on the TSF.

A supplementary treatment plant

The diversion of ‘clean’ water around the mine is expected to increase the volume and the ability to collect acid water seepage from the site. To further reduce possible contamination to the groundwater and surrounding environment, investigations have commenced for the construction of a budgeted $2.5 million supplementary treatment plant.

The fall-back position is to construct another lime neutralisation plant of similar design and capacity as the existing plant. Potential developments in new technology will be investigated, e.g. membrane separation techniques etc, by a call for expression of interest, to facilitate evaluation of their practical application before committal to a design.