Invitation to Splitters Creek

Yesterday works recommenced in Costerfield on the Splitters Creek Evaporation Facility. Recommenced, because this road and workpad had already been constructed on the Subject Land, Lot 1 South Costerfield-Graytown Road.

On a Public Holiday in Bendigo.

 
The mine has been allowed to proceed with the stripping of topsoil from Lot 2 despite neglecting to sample surface waters prior to the work as per conditions handed down in King vs. City of Greater Bendigo and written into the Permit.

And despite recent events in Costerfield which have seen residents return higher then normal antimony levels in their urine, no dust monitoring equipment to sample the air for particulate emissions has been installed. Dust deposition gauges are on the site but not on surrounding properties despite the VCAT decision.

Despite a lot of things. Like consideration and consultation.

As we have told the authorities on numerous occasions this week, on this blog and in direct email communication, there will be dust and lots of it. We expect dust in Costerfield.

And there was. Lots of it. Unmonitored nuisance dust was generated across the road at Glen Lea, Mr Colin Leask's and Ms Pam King's chemical free lamb enterprise and Shetland pony stud in breach of condition 20 of the Permit:

The use permitted by this permit must not, in the opinion of the responsible authority, adversely affect the amenity of the locality by reason of the processes carried on; the transportation of materials, goods or commodities to or from the subject land; the appearance of any buildings, works or materials; the emission of noise, artificial light, vibration, smell, fumes, smoke vapour, steam, soot, ash, dust, waste water, waste products, grit, or oil; the presence of vermin, or otherwise.

"When I arrived back home they were driving around the paddock like it was a bloody race track," said Ms King. "There was dust everywhere. They soon slowed down when we brought the camera out to take photos. That's what happens when no one is watching."

While all of this was happening, frantic phone calls were being made to the mine, the Mayor, Councillors, the Department of Health. Messages left, emails and texts sent. No replies. Unmonitored dust generation was allowed to proceed, even in light of the recent health issues that are still under investigation. No one attended.

*Councillor Helen Leach has replied and has assured us that she is following up these matters today.

Mandalay Resources 24/7 phone number - 5431 0444 - for any inquiries or complaints was unattended.

What is happening here?

And then there is the noise. "Noise from Industry in Regional Victoria" is subject to EPA regulation in accordance with this document. Section 2.1 on considering the effects of introducing noise to quiet rural environments. Apparently:

Consideration for applying more stringent levels is typically made during environmental effects statements, EPA works approvals or other proposals with EPA input.

We are yet to be informed whether an EPA Environmental Auditor has been appointed or who this person may be. The noise levels at Splitters Creek yesterday lead us to assume that no one from EPA is watching... or listening.

*The Environmental Auditor has been appointed, apparently. His name is Mr Joe Duran and he works for the firm URS, which has been employed by Mandalay Resources for years to provide consultancy advice and to compile its reports. He also served as Mandalay Resources expert witness in the VCAT hearing. We wonder where he was auditing yesterday.

The noise was horrendous. And obviously unmonitored. Locals who have much prior experience (a decade's) of mine-generated noise, were of the opinion that the racket was well above the 46dB + 10dB limits supposedly allowed by the EPA.

Ms King and Mr Leask had expected dust, of course - we all did, didn't we? - so they moved their stock away from the works over the road. But they had not expected the noise. And neither had the animals.

One of Ms Kings pregnant mares was so distressed that she went into labour last evening and delivered a dead foal. It hasn't been a very good year for breeding ponies in Costerfield this year.

So, now Ms King has a paddock and a dam (that should have had its waters sampled) and amouth full of dust, a dead foal, a very sick mare and a ringing in her ears.

And she can no doubt expect the same UNREGULATED madness today. And for the foreseeable future.

We invite as many people as would like to come, to please visit Splitters Creek in Costerfield to witness the debacle that is the construction of this Evaporation Facility in breach of Permit.

Bring a dust mask, though. The dust isn't unmonitored so you won't know how much particulate dust you've been exposed to, despite the conditions of the Permit. And the DSDBI recommend that in Costerfield, people should "Minimise the ingestion of soil, especially important for children playing outside".

So don't bring your children.

Bring some earplugs. Construction works are permitted to exceed the usual 46dB level by 10dB to allow for heavy machinery and difficult work, but it's much louder than that.

Record the event for posterity. We will be. When you take your camera out, watch the wary workmen slow down to mitigate the dust they are creating.