Category Archives: Dargues Reef Gold Mine
Overview – Dargues Gold Mine
The Dargues Gold Mine (often called the Dargues Reef Gold Mine) is situated in Majors Creek above the Araluen Valley, at the headwaters of the Araluen Creek, which runs into the Deua River, the water supply for much of the Eurobodalla Shire.
Coastwatchers has been involved in various ways with the Dargues Gold project since 2010. Though the mine was finally approved and built, cyanide processing of the ore is not carried out on site; instead the ore is trucked away for processing.
Details of some of Coastwatchers’ involvement appears below. Much information can be found at the NSW Government’s Major Projects website; you can click through to their Dargues Gold Project page here.
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Report to Coastwatchers on Dargues Gold Mine – August 2021
The Dargues mine is close to the village of Majors Creek at the top of the Moruya River catchment, and so represents a risk to the ecosystem health of the river, riparian areas, the estuary and potentially nearby coastal areas should there be any significant release of contaminants from the mine. It is important for us to monitor the operation of the mine and its environmental performance, and this is done through Coastwatchers’ membership of the Dargues Mine Community Consultative
Committee (CCC) – we are represented by Stewart Needham. The CCC meets quarterly, usually in Majors Creek, and since mining operations have been in progress most meetings have been preceded by a visit to the mine site. These visits focus on the processing plant and water management systems and structures, as these are the areas where the community has most concerns (ie noise, dust, truck movements etc, and water quality and management). Continue reading
Comments – Dargues Mine Water Management Plan Feb 2020
Coastwatchers member Stewart Needham is a member of the Dargues mine Community Consultative Committee. He submitted the following document in relation to the Dargues Mine Water Management Plan.
Dargues Gold Mine update from Coastwatchers’ new representative on the Dargues Gold Mine Community Consultative Committee, Stewart Needham
Stewart writes: I attended the last Dargues Reef CCC meeting on 30 September as an observer, and since then my nomination has been formally accepted so that I will be able to fully participate in the next CCC meeting to … Continue reading
Dargues Reef Gold Mine Community Information Meeting Jan 30th 2019
DARGUES REEF GOLD MINE MINER’S COMMUNITY INFORMATION MEETING When 6.00 pm Wednesday 30 January Where Majors Creek Hall The operators/owners of the Dargues Gold Mine, Diversified Minerals Pty Ltd, will be holding a community information session to provide: an update … Continue reading
Posted in 2019, Dargues Reef Gold Mine, Expired Notices
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Update on the Dargues Reef Mine November 2018
Background: Gold was discovered at Majors Creek in 1870. Mining commenced in 1871 and lasted until 1890. It recommenced during the First World War from 1914 until 1916. Reopening the Dargues Gold Mine at Majors Creek was again proposed in 2009. … Continue reading
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Letter to the Editor of The Beagle re Gold Mine Tailings Dam Collapse
Please click here to read the letter, dated March 11th 2018, on the Beagle website.
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Dargues Reef Mine Gets Final Approval
In April 2017, Big Island Mining received final approval from the Commonwealth Government to proceed with the development of the Dargues Reef Gold Mine at Majors Creek. Big Island Mining had previously received approval under NSW Planning legislation following the … Continue reading
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Dargues Reef Mine Set to Commence Mining
After nearly two and a half years of inquiries and approvals, the Dargues Reef Gold Mine will shortly commence operation. The timeline of events for the approval process was as follows. As you will see, it commenced in November 2014 … Continue reading
Posted in 2017, Dargues Reef Gold Mine
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Statement of Reasons for Approval under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
I, MIKE SMITH, as the then acting Assistant Secretary, Department of the Environment and Energy (the Department), then delegate for the Minister for the Environment and Energy (the Minister), provide this statement of reasons for my decision of 17 February … Continue reading
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CW Submission to NSW Dept Planning re Changes to Environment Planning and Assessment Act 1979 – March 31st 2017
The Association opposed the 2010 Development Application regarding the Dargues Reef Gold Mine by Big Island Mining Pty Ltd in 2010, and again opposed the Modification to that Development Approval in 2015. That experience highlighted some major deficiencies with the … Continue reading
Dargues Reef Mine Gets Conditional Final Approval from the Commonwealth Government
Most members were under the impression that all approvals for the Dargues Reef Mine were finalised, and that mining was set to commence, as the Miner was saying. However, that was not correct and the Association has been monitoring the … Continue reading
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CW Presentation to ESC re Dargues Reef – Aug 25th 2016
Clean water is a fundamental right in Australia, and cannot be compromised for the profits of a mining company. The existing fresh water supply must be secured and maintained, not just for today’s community, but for future generations. Presentation to … Continue reading
Posted in 2016, Dargues Reef Gold Mine, Submissions
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CW Submission to Commonwealth Department of the Environment and Big Island Mining – Aug 17th 2016
In 2010 and again in 2015-16 when the miner was preparing its environmental assessments, the NSW Government only required an assessment covering the impacts and consequences in a small immediate area around the mine site. No consideration was required of … Continue reading
Posted in 2016, Dargues Reef Gold Mine, Submissions
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CW Presentation to NSW Planning Assessment Commission re Dargues Reef – July 26th 2016
The major concern of the Association with the Dargues Reef mine is with the integrity of the tailings dam, now, in the future, and when the mine is no longer operational. Irrespective of the cause, many mining tailings dams worldwide … Continue reading
Posted in 2016, Dargues Reef Gold Mine, Submissions
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Dargues Reef Gold Mine Next Stage – NSW Planning Report Referred to the NSW Planning Assessment Commission
Background Recap In July 2015 the Department of Planning and Environment (Planning) exhibited for 6 weeks Unity Mining’s application for Modification 3 and Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Dargues Reef Gold Mine at Majors Creek. This resulted in 417 submissions, … Continue reading
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CW Submission to NSW Dept Planning & Environment re Dargues Reef – Jan 3rd 2016
Response to Proponent’s response to August 2015 Submissions The proponent’s “Modification 3” application to the NSW Department of Planning fundamentally changed the original 2010 development approval of the project. As a result of these changes, environmental risks were significantly increased. … Continue reading
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Presentation by Dr Emmett O’Loughlin to Coastwatchers AGM 2015
PRESENTATION BY DR EMMETT O’LOUGHLIN to the COASTWATCHERS ASSOCIATION AGM, Saturday 31 Oct 2015 Title: THEY’RE NOT REAL! (An acknowledgment to Roger Hosking, the Braidwood weather observer.) HISTORY In September 1851 gold was discovered at Araluen, NSW and in October … Continue reading
Posted in 2015, Dargues Reef Gold Mine, Meetings, Presentations
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Braidwood Times Article “Sayonara Cyanide” September 16th 2015
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CW Submission to Federal Dept of Environment re Dargues Reef Mine 3rd Modification – Sept 4th 2015
The Coastwatchers Association Inc. requests that the Dargues Mine proposal as modified by Modification 3 be assessed as a controlled action under sections 18 and 18A of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 because of likely significant impacts … Continue reading
Posted in 2015, Dargues Reef Gold Mine, Submissions
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CW Submission to NSW Dept of Planning and Environment re Dargues Reef Modification 3 August 26th 2015
The Coastwatchers Association Inc. OBJECTS to the NSW State Government approving the construction of a cyanide treatment plant at the Dargues Reef gold mine at Majors Creek, by Unity Mining Limited through its subsidiary Big Island Mining Pty Ltd. CW … Continue reading
Posted in 2015, Dargues Reef Gold Mine, Submissions
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CW Presentation to ESC August 25th 2015
“This cyanide processing plant must never be approved and the toxicity it will harbour must never be allowed to hang over this community.”
Posted in 2015, Dargues Reef Gold Mine, Submissions
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Batemans Bay Post Article – Dargues Mine – March 4th 2015
Risk too high, Roberts tells shire councillors, by Emily Barton
Posted in 2015, Dargues Reef Gold Mine, News Coverage
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CW Presentation to ESC re Dargues Reef – Feb 24th 2015
This application by the gold mining company Unity Mining Limited is to obtain permission to process gold on site at Majors Creek, using cyanide. Previous development approvals for the mine, provided for the processing of the ore off-site at Parkes … Continue reading
Posted in 2015, Dargues Reef Gold Mine, Submissions
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