The New South Wales' environmental watchdog has fined one of Australia's largest gold mines for not doing enough to stop dust pollution from affecting neighbouring residents.
Cadia Hill gold mine, near Orange, has been forced to pay $15,000 for failing to ensure dust did not lift off two of its storage facilities that hold tailings, which are the by-products of mining.
In April, the state's Environment Protection Authority (EPA) investigated residents' complaints that airborne particles had blown off the mine's northern tailings dam.
It said Cadia had applied a cover of hydromulch to control the dust, but found the company had not maintained effective coverage of the suppressant on the tailings facilities.
Hydromulch is a hydraulic technique of applying a mixture of organic material with a binding chemical, fertilisers and seed as a slurry in water to rehabilitate disturbed ground.
Director regulatory operations at EPA Cate Woods said it was not the first time concerns had been raised.
She described the failure as a "serious matter".
"The EPA has received numerous notifications by residents of dust lift events visible from their homes," she said.
The EPA said the dust pollution had occurred because the tailings facilities had dried out after a dam wall separating the two storages suffered a "catastrophic failure" in 2018.
"Although the EPA has taken other action related to these events, a need for deterrence is required," Ms Woods said.
Warning from watchdog
The $15,000 fine is the largest the EPA can issue under its legislation.
Ms Woods has warned that more action will be taken if the mine continues to flout the rules.
"Cadia Valley Operations must do better to manage its impact on the surrounding community if its wants to avoid an escalation in regulatory action by the EPA," she said.
No deterrent
Residents who alerted the EPA to the dust pollution say they are relieved a penalty has been issued.
Farmer Gemma Green is part of a local group, Cadia Sustainability Community Network, and says the fine shows landholders' concerns are warranted.
"I'm really grateful for the outcome from the EPA," Ms Green said.
"At the end of the day my question is to the EPA at what point, when an infringement is repeated, is it then escalated to the next level?"
But Ms Green said she was not convinced the fine was a strong enough deterrent.
"It's not a matching penalty," she said.
"A penalty to me that would impact [mine owner] Newcrest more would be decreasing their ability to produce for 12 months.
"That is something that I feel would create more action to proactively change things with the dust issue."
The mine has previously assured the community that the dust poses no risk to public health.
In a statement Cadia general manager Aaron Brannigan said the mine had since doubled its dust mitigation program and was managing potential high-wind events.
He said research was also being done to improve dust suppression strategies.
