The Magistrates Court in Mt Isa, Queensland, today handed down its judgement regarding charges brought against Century Mine by the Queensland Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM). These charges related to the discharge of contaminants into Page Creek during an exceptional rainfall event in January/February 2009.
MMG Century had already accepted that, according to relevant legislation, it caused environmental harm and, therefore pleaded guilty to unlawfully causing serious environmental harm and to contravening a condition of an environmental authority and was fined A$130,000.
The contamination of Page Creek occurred during last year’s exceptionally heavy wet season and Century Mine was only one of a number of mines in the north-west region affected by this record 1 in 200 year wet.
The company has worked very closely and cooperatively with the DERM and our local stakeholders both at the time, and throughout the investigation and clean up process. The company has spent approximately A$350,000 to date directly on the remediation process.
In addition the company has committed approximately A$8 million towards initial corrective and preventative works in Page Creek and improvements to its water management system at the mine.
The company is pleased the Magistrate took into account the company’s cooperation with the DERM during the investigation process, the significant efforts it took to minimise water releases during the flooding and the remediation efforts of the company in respect of Page Creek and improvements to its water management system.
Media enquiries:
Sally Cox
Communications Manager
T 61 3 9288 0850 / 61 417 144 524
E sally.cox@mmgroupltd.com