Mines dumping toxic waste, CJC told

By Bill Mason

BRISBANE -- Queensland's biggest company, MIM, was guilty of contaminating thousands of hectares of the northern region, a state government environment officer told the Criminal Justice Commission toxic waste inquiry on April 8.

Minerals and Energy Department senior environmental officer Peter Curley said Mt Isa Mines had a history of polluting “off-lease” air, water and land.

He claimed the company had disposed of copper waste into the Leichhardt River in north Queensland and said his department was not advised until months later about an overflow from one of its tailings dams.

Earlier, a former environmental officer, Jim Leggate, told the inquiry that cyanide and other toxins were leaking into Queensland's waterways and threatening the water supplies of many towns.

Queensland's mining industry had blatantly ignored environment conditions of leases requiring it to dispose of toxic waste, Leggate told the CJC inquiry on April 6.

Leggate said it would cost taxpayers more than $1 billion to clean up unrehabilitated and abandoned mines causing environmental damage.

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