Bulong TSF

Description

Bulong TSF

The Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DEMIRS) respectfully acknowledges Aboriginal peoples as being the Traditional Custodians of Western Australia.

The Bulong site is located on Kakarra Native Title Claim area approximately 40km east of Kalgoorlie, adjacent to the western side of Lake Yindarlgooda.

Nickel mining operations were undertaken at Bulong between 1996 and 2005 when the operating company went into receivership. The mining lease over the tailings storage facility (TSF) and evaporation ponds was forfeited in 2013 and this component of the operation was abandoned. The TSF and evaporation ponds were selected as a rehabilitation project under the Abandoned Mines Program due to community concerns and the potential for impact on the adjacent lake system.

A detailed site investigation and ecological risk assessment have been undertaken to characterise potential contamination associated with the facility. No risks to human health from contamination have been identified and risks to the lake ecology have been assessed as low.

Geotechnical assessments including Dam Break Assessment, Likelihood of Failure Report and a Conceptual Closure Design have now been completed. The Likelihood of Failure Assessment reported that the most likely failure scenario is through seismic instability, with an estimated annual probability of occurrence of 1 in 25,000. All calculated failure scenario probabilities were significantly below the calculated ANCOLD limit of tolerability of 1 in 1,000.

Registered Aboriginal Heritage sites, Native Title considerations, identification of a suitable source of competent capping material and a haulage route must be negotiated before the project can progress to developing a detailed closure design.

This project is on hold pending improved MRF interest funds and engagement with Traditional Custodians.

Strategic Objectives

  1. To minimise significant environmental and safety risks associated with the Bulong tailings storage facility.
  2. With consideration of heritage values, to enhance the potential future use of the site through rehabilitation.

Bulong

Program implementation framework graphics_Bulong

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