Mod 3 - Processing & Tailings Storage

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There is a chronic level of unemployment in the region around the Dargues Creek mine.
Mining brings benefits to the community of hope, employment and services.
The mine itself will have minimal detrimental impact on the local community due to its remote location.
The mine will be environmentally safe. People can be apprehensive about change and new industries. Mining has established an EXCELLENT safety and environmental record in the country. Fears about the mine are ungrounded and with education and time, trust will grow.

Cyanide processing of ore containing lead, zinc, uranium, arsenic, copper should not be allowed in the water catchment system that supplies water to a hundred thousand people nor above a NSW State Conservation Area with twenty-three rare, vulnerable, endangered and critically endangered species reliant on it and is a major bird migration corridor.

Full protection must be provided to people, animals, bird, ground and water from dangerous chemicals. If protection cannot be 100 percent guaranteed, then any activities relating to this must cease. It is the only right and good thing to do. Lives and health come first, not profits.

As an active mining professional I fully support this project in going ahead.
The current unemployment status in Australia is poor and not solely in regards to the mining industry. Many people have recently been made redundant across the mining sector with many more jobs in jeopardy as global economic conditions continue to put pressure commodity markets and project viabilities. Manufacturing, construction and automotive industries in Australia currently have a poor outlook for the future also.
I am one of the lucky few that currently have ongoing employment in my chosen industry of mining but I know of many Australian friends and colleagues who are not so fortunate. Many families are struggling to survive I feel we need to support all mining projects that will inevitably benefit our country as a whole. The employment opportunities, government royalties, flow on benefits to community's and service providers from this mining project in such testing economic times should not be underestimated.
Many people linked to the mining industry are actually in need of such projects to go ahead.
Economically viable ore deposits are a very special and rare occurrence and Australia is fortunate to have built most of our economic history on the back of the mining such deposits. New discoveries of economic mineral deposits in Australia are becoming far less frequent with capital investment required for such discoveries increasing. The opportunity for Australians prospering from mining operations is decreasing.
Mining in environmentally sensitive locations is not a new concept and has been proven to be possible to be done safely for both communities and the environment. The Australian mining industry is governed by world leading regulations and practices that enable this to be achieved. I believe Unity Mining has the knowledge and capability to undertake this project to achieve a positive outcome for all concerned. I have worked at a mine in a very similar environment at Strathalbyn in South Australia which had bordering farm lands and abundant surface and groundwater. The project was initially opposed by the community but the benefits to the region and businesses could not be denied. The overall feeling was one of great benefit once the mine was operational. The mine employed local people, many young and previously unemployed. The mine supported and grew local business in a way not possible without it.
All types of land use come at the some detriment to the environment. Residential use, horticultural or livestock farming on land cleared of native vegetation all have some impact on the environment. With correct management all types of land use can be undertaken in acceptable ways, even mining. There is always risk involved in every type of activity we undertake in our daily lives but it is the way we manage and mitigate the risk that allows us to conduct these activities safely. The standards that will be employed at the Dargues Gold Mine will be no different. Our country and government has built a precedent of expecting no less. The technologies to be used at the mine site are not new and have been tried and tested in environments similar to the Braidwood Araluen area without incident.
Australia needs this mining project and many others just like it to provide us with employment to support our families and to provide royalties to the government to help fund the sustainability and growth of our nation.

I heard about this application through a writers group I belong to and was so appalled by what is being proposed that I felt duty bound as an environmentally-conscious Australian citizen to put in a submission.

The proposal to modify the mine conditions to allow the processing of gold ore on site (involving the use of cyanide!!) would create unacceptable risks to the health and wellbeing of the citizens, fauna, flora and waterways of the region and the application should therefore be rejected.

Many species in the Palerang Council area are endangered, including the Smoky Mouse, Southern Brown Bandicoot, Eastern Bristlebird, Regent Honeyeater, and five species of frog. See: http://reports.envcomm.act.gov.au/SoE2004/Palerang/nativespecies.htm

Frogs in particular are very susceptible to even the most minor changes in their environment. If there was any overflow from the proposed tailings dam (a distinct possibility given the failure of the mine's sediment dams in heavy rain events), the consequences would be severe if not fatal.

I submit the application should be rejected.

As a regular visitor to the Duea River and Araluen Creek i feel i must express my concern about the likelihood of pollution from the Majors Creek goldmine. If the chemicals used in the gold extraction process leak into the Araluen Creek the results will be a disaster. This creek runs into the Duea River from which Moruya takes its water supply, and now we have a pipeline to Deep Creek Dam Batemans Bay could also be affected as well as all the other suburbs connected to town water supply.
Furthermore, anyone who has bathed in, canoed in or ridden/walked in and seen first hand this pristine environment would have to be insane to take such a risk of polluting it.
Also spare a thought for the folks who grow fruit and veg in the area. You can't irrigate with poisoned water.

Given this project's poor track record with regards to retention of tailings and sediment, I strongly oppose allowing the processing of ores on-site, and its consequent high risk of heavy metal spills. It is inappropriate and unacceptable to allow long-term consequences for surrounding land and properties from what is a relatively short-term venture not benefiting those properties.

I am strongly opposed to the use of cyanide in the extraction process. There are numerous examples of this process destroying the surrounding environs to an extreme extent. I believe this application to be one of the worst threats to the future of the Moruya river and surrounds. It threatens our environment and our economy. The risks are too high associated with this type of extraction process. The application must be rejected to maintain the integrity of the area.

To Whom It May Concern

Three years ago Coastwatchers and SERCA won stringent conditions for a proposed gold mine by Big Island Mining Pty Ltd to operate above our valley home.The sediment dams failed in the first three day rainfall. In the six months before work halted in 2013, large drifts of sediment filled the deep holes of the gorge to about a third of their depth. Much is still there. The company was convicted in the Land and Environment Court for three pollution events.

The Company wish to change the Conditions of approval of that mining venture by Modification to allow them to process the gold ore on site, using cyanide. Instead of the heavy metals lead, zinc, cadmium, uranium and other potentially deadly heavy metals being trucked, these heavy metals will sit in a tailings dam on the steep site at the top of the Major's Creek/Deua/Morura catchment, above Eurobodalla's water supply, and farms and businesses and households. I totally object to this proposal.

One major cyanide spill could be deadly to the community and to the endangered wildlife of the valley. An accumulation of small spills will be deadly too, as the heavy metals gradually build up in the soil of the riverside farms and orchards, to harm today's children and children as yet unborn.

The Mining Company does not pretend there will be no spills. It admits there will be, but says that they will be diluted by rain. This is unproven and even if it were to be the case it presumes the spills will occur when it is raining - a rash assumption in this area.

Given the history of work on the site in 2013, a major failure or series of small failures seems inevitable. `World's best practice conditions' failed in 2013. Why will it be different now?

Cyanide processing or ore rich in heavy metals should not happen next to a village above a major farming and tourism area.

I implore you to reject this appliation in its entirety.

Yours Sincerely,

Tim McGarry

THis Mine will continue tp provide emploument and support to this community for many years and should be supported.

I support all mining growth a sustainability

When the initial approval was applied for the operators guaranteed that processing would not apply on-site. They are now trying to sneak it in.

There has already been a spill from the site so assurances from the operator that cyanide will not be spilled are unreliable.

Is it worth the risk to drinking supplies on the South Coast for only four years of potential employment?

Will mining royalties cover the potential cost of remediation and compensation if there is a spill?

I have never put in a submission before but this is just too risky to ignore.

The management team have a good track record of designing, constructing and managing gold mines of this type elsewhere in Australia to meet all statutory requirements (work health and safety, and environment). The process of mining and processing is utilising well known and proven technologies - including cyanide management, protection of water quality (surface and underground) and tailings storage facilities.

Upon review of the submissions and studies it would appear that there are no technical reasons why the mine should not proceed. Community benefits such as employment for the area (no fly in fly out) and use of local suppliers and contractors will be a significant boost to the local economy.

I support the submission(s) and the mine moving forward.

I believe that Dargues Reef Gold Project will be an asset for the region of Braidwood and the 100 jobs will give the economic boost so badly needed to the area.
Such innovative and proactive mining ventures, as the Dargues Reef Gold Project, given the the environmental controls and assurances that must be approved by goverment before future development, I believe should be given a chance.

We support the proposed project as it is intended to adopt sound governance and risk management principles, based on leading standards

I have no specific submission. I support the project and want to see that it be approved so that employment opportunities become available to the regional community

Unity Mining's commitment to operating in a safe and responsible manner will ensure the success of the Dargues Mine.

Dear sir/madam
I strongly object to the proposed amendment to the mine.
This is a very environmentally sensitive area.
Although considered to be low risk, the potential impact of spills form the dam could be enormous.
I have two properties in the Eurobodalla area, in Araluen and Mossy Point. The land in Araluen, boarding the Deua river and national park, were purchased in order to enjoy and importantly preserve the natural beauty of the area. Polluted waters will have significant impact on that area, along with the drinking water we consume daily at Mossy Point.
Please, stop the greed. Reject this amendment.

Dear Minister and Dept of Planning staff
I am very strongly against the currently proposed modification to the Dargues Creek Mine approval.
The land and water catchment below the mine is precious agricultural and forestry land that currently support growing market garden communities as well as established orchards. In addition our water for the Eurobodalla is taken from the Moruya River which is downstream of the mine.
Past events have proved that overflow in extreme weather conditions is possible so using cyanide and leaving heavy minerals in a tailings dam is highly inappropriate.
I look forward to you considering this proposal veryour closely and erring on the side of safety and community.
yours sincerely
Marie zuvich

This gold mine will create toxic waste that will end up in our drinking water. It will poison the water, land and end up in the ocean killing all plants and creatures in its path. I strongly oppose this development now and for the future. This will effect not only the environment, health and financial outcomes for this area.