Resources Victoria has issued infringement notices to Victory Minerals, following a site inspection identified unauthorised construction, changed infrastructure and vegetation removal at the Ballarat Gold Mine.
Removing vegetation can increase the amount of duster from operations, impact the level of rehabilitation required and influence long-term site restoration.
Victoria’s mining regulator is continuing to monitor a range of operational issues at Ballarat to ensure the site is managed in-line with Victoria’s mining regulations.
Resources Victoria says unauthorised work within an existing pit at the mine resulted in its permitted size being exceeded, impacting the type and amount rehabilitation required to restore the site in the long-term.
To protect the environment and ensure land can eventually be restored, potential impacts from mining activity must be thoroughly assessed and a work plan approved by Resources Victoria. The work plan must identify, assess and minimise risks to ensure operations remain safe.
Chief Inspector Renee Palmer says Resources Victoria is continuing to focus on compliance at the mine to make sure operations are appropriately managed.
“We will use all the tools at our disposal to ensure that companies entrusted with access to the state’s resources are managing sites properly to protect communities and the environment,” Palmer says.
Victory Minerals operates an underground gold mine at Mount Clear – Ballarat – located in the Victorian goldfields of Australia.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: Victory Minerals
