Ausgold to detail Katanning gold project’s environmental strategy after hydrologist’s claims of ‘omissions’

The company behind the proposal for a gold mine north-east of Katanning has shared its environmental strategy in a bid to ease concerns over its potential impact on the Badgebup site. Troy Collie, Ausgold’s general manager planning, environment and approvals, said the company would also be publicising its mine closure strategy, promising to restore biodiverse vegetation and replace topsoil removed during the Katanning gold project’s 10-year mining operation. He said Ausgold was surveying the proposed site to check on the wildlife, which opponents of the mine say includes Carnaby’s black cockatoos and red-tailed phascogales. “We know these listed species occur in the Great Southern and the nearby region, and we are pleased that the Katanning gold project layout is able to minimise the amount of tree clearing, which reduces the potential effect it may have on native fauna habitat,” Mr Collie said. “Our studies prove that ferals are the most recorded animals in the district. “Controlling foxes and cats is one action where Ausgold will lend vital support, as these ferals do extensive damage to populations of these listed species.” However, a consultant hydrologist who reviewed documents provided by Ausgold in advance of the Environmental Protection Authority’s seven-day public comment period has said they contain “omissions, assumptions and contradictions which are concerning”. Katanning environmentalists, who have been campaigning on social media against the mine, have called for the EPA to carry out a full public assessment. The public comment period ended on December 1. Lance Mudgway, a Wagin-based hydrologist with experience working for Landcare and the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, said he had reviewed the Ausgold paperwork. “The time frame of seven days was very tight; there was a lot of material submitted, much of which was extremely repetitive,” he said. “There seemed to be omissions, assumptions and contradictions which are concerning. “Some of the conclusions drawn seem inconsistent with the data it has presented. “The stormwater management plan used outdated terms to describe its design parameters, which meant that the design appears to be inadequate. “It did not explain how they would manage the ponds they said would flood four times a year, and there is no mention of the evaporation pond design. “Also, the treatment of the ‘surplus’ water described in the water balance of the KGP was not clear.” Mr Mudgway said while Ausgold had said there would be spoil heaps of 50m-60m, the company had not talked in detail in the documents he reviewed about rehabilitating the land. Mr Collie said he was sure Ausgold had covered all bases in its water management strategy. “We are very confident in the measurements and our models,” he said. “The EPA will now look at our submission; we are sure we can do any further work necessary to resolve key concerns. “At this early stage of the State’s assessment, we expect to hear stakeholder and public concerns, and we will take them away and do more research and analysis to address them. “We will shortly be putting the mine closure strategy on the Ausgold website. “It is quite exciting what we can make of the site post-closure as, depending on the landform shape, we will restore land to grazing and create biodiverse vegetation with heath plants like banksia, grevillea and hakea for native animal foraging. “Mining today is not a contaminating activity, as people may have envisioned, say, 50 years ago. “Any mining we conduct will be rehabilitated and retained on privately owned land. “We can reshape the mined landscape. We know it will be different than the present, but it can still have natural and/or economic and agricultural worth after its rehabilitation.” Mr Mudgway said while mining was in progress, the water table could drop and affect adjacent woodland. “The documents talk about the ‘precautionary principle’ but not how this is to be achieved so they should be held to it — make sure anything you do doesn’t have an impact, or don’t do it,” he said.