Description
Northampton is located on Yamatji Nation Indigenous Land Use Agreement area 59 km north of Geraldton.
Mining for copper and lead began in the area in the 1860s and 70s. The Northampton Shafts project is comprised of three sites: Wheal Ellen, Commonage and Wanerenooka. Historic mining has left a legacy of abandoned mine shafts at each site.
The Abandoned Mines Program is working in partnership with the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage's Northampton Lead Tailings Project to reduce the risks associated with historic mining in the area.
This shafts project was placed on hold in 2020 following the Wheal Ellen geotechnical assessments due to insufficient Mining Rehabilitation Fund interest earnings to enable further work.
Increases in interest earnings on the fund enabled the project to recommence in 2023.
Strategic Objectives
- Provide a permanent rehabilitation treatment to mitigate safety risks associated with abandoned mine features.
- With consideration of heritage values, to enhance the potential future use of the site through rehabilitation.
| Desktop assessment | Investigation | Planning | Implementation | Monitoring |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stakeholder engagement commenced in 2018 and is ongoing (U) | Initial site inspection by Abandoned Mines Program May 2020 (C) | Project plan 2023 – 2024 (U) | Declaration of abandoned mine site 2020/2023 (C) | Monitoring of environmental indicators to ensure the site has met objectives for post-project landuse (at minimum the site is safe, stable and non-polluting) (P) |
| Initial site risk assessment Wheal Ellen 2020 (C) | Geotechnical assessment Wheal Ellen September 2020 (C) | Geotechnical remediation options for shafts 2024 (U) | Rehabilitation works for shafts 2025 (P) | Revocation of declaration of abandoned mine site (P) |
| Initial site risk assessment Commonage and Wanerenooka April 2023 (C) | Aboriginal cultural heritage survey July 2023 (C) | State heritage management plan Wanerenooka 2023 (C) | ||
| Preliminary project plan - Wheal Ellen September 2020 (C) | Geotechnical assessment Commonage and Wanerenooka December 2023 (C) | Stakeholder engagement to select rehabilitation options 2024 (P) | ||
| State heritage survey Wanerenooka November 2023 (C) |
Schedule: Completed (C); Underway (U); Planned (P)
