Croydon Historic Tailings Remediation & Recommercialisation Opportunities Assessment

The Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Manufacturing, Regional and Rural Development (DNRMMRRD, “the department”) Technical Services team seeks to undertake an investigation and assessment of tailings deposits across four locations, including the heritage listed Croydon Consols, historic tailings situated at two locations along the Belmore Creek in Croydon, and Cumberland smelter tailings at Georgetown (Figure 1).

The historic tailings are amongst the 40 priority abandoned mines in the Queensland Government Abandoned Mine Lands Program (AMLP). Attachment 1 provides additional site information. This project will identify and develop mitigation strategies to reduce risks to people, property and the environment.

Works include:

Stage 1 – Risk and baseline assessment

• Undertake geochemical characterization and assessment of the tailing’s material at all four locations, including extent of contamination, the type of contaminants, and any valuable minerals present

• Undertake assessment of environmental and heritage risks (where needed)

• Quantify the volume of tailings material at each site to inform potential remediation options and designs

• Identify regulatory and site constraints, and assumptions which may impact Stage 2

Stage 2- Remediation options

Using the information identified in Stage 1, develop a remediation plan with cost estimates for remediation of these sites. As part of the remediation plan, an options assessment will also consider relocation and consolidation of tailings to the Golden Gate Tailings Storage Facility, and/or investigate the opportunities for re-processing the tailings material.