Newcrest Cadia mine's dust report triggers community health investigation request

Three years after its tailings dam wall collapsed in the NSW Central West, Newcrest's Cadia Valley Operations — the world's second largest gold mine — has released their report into tailings dust environmental health impacts. Key points: Newcrest's Cadia Valley Operations have released their findings into the environmental health impacts of tailings dust Landholders living in the mine neighbourhood have engaged an independent expert, based on the report's findings A formal request for an environmental health assessment of the mine community has been lodged with NSW Health The report, titled Tailings dust environmental health assessment and monitoring study review, released this month, sought to assure employees and those living in the mine's neighbourhood that dust lift from the CVO tailings dams posed no risk to public health. "The Cadia District Protection Group approached independent expert Dora Pearce on the epidemiological impacts of dust emanating from mine waste," mine neighbour Frances Retallack said. "Comprehensive and precise dust monitoring data is crucial if the environmental health impact of offsite dust emissions is to be correctly interpreted," Dr Pearce explains.