One day after announcing an investigation into Cadia Valley gold mine, the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has held a community information session in the village of Millthorpe, New South Wales.
More than 40 residents attended after learning that heavy metals had been discovered in people's drinking water and bloodstreams.
Representatives from the EPA and NSW Health were on hand to hear concerns and provide advice at the session, which EPA chief executive Tony Chappel said was "extremely valuable".
"They were appreciative we were there to listen to their concerns and discuss the actions we're taking into the mine and their activities," he said.
Most came seeking practical answers, including young mum Kayley Woods-Pendergast.
"I was wanting to know, are we safe to shower in [the water]?" she said.
As the mother of a toddler, Mrs Woods-Pendergast is especially concerned about exposure to lead.
She said she appreciated the session but hoped there would be more support to follow.
"I think what they're doing today is a great start, but I think there's definitely more they could be doing," Mrs Woods-Predergast said.
For some, the opportunity to get tested was particularly important.
Stephanie Luke drove from Bathurst to learn how her rain-fed drinking water supply could be tested.
She said she had experienced unexplained health issues for several years.
"I'm quite curious about whether it's got to do with environmental elements," Ms Luke said.
"I'm about to have my water tested and I'm getting my bloods tested as well."
Ms Luke was surprised companies such as Cadia were not legally required to submit weekly air pollution reports and said she felt let down by regulators.
"To hear stories of people, at their own expense, dragging authorities kicking and screaming and [for] the company to acknowledge that there's an issue, I feel like we're in some bizarre backwater," she said.
Russell, who asked that his surname not be published, was only made aware there was an issue in his district that morning.
Because his household relies exclusively on rainwater, he was eager to arrange water tests that would establish a baseline for the quality of his drinking water.
Russell felt grateful for transparency the event gave the community.
"[That] we can have opportunities like this and find out from the people who are the checks and balances what's going on, what's proposed and if there's a role that we can have to help, so that we're not stopping progress, but that the progress is responsible," he said.
