The geologist who drilled the first holes to find gold at the Cadia mine has called on Newcrest to explain its contingency plan in case of further tailings dam damage.
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Processing work at the Cadia Valley operations was shut down after the partial collapse of the wall between its two dams on March 9.
Former Cadia worker and geophysicist John Holliday said the company should build a large containment dam further down the valley to trap spillage if the southern dam wall was breached.
“We were very lucky the spill was in a dry time and it was in the northern tailings dam,” he said.
He said he was concerned about environmental damage to the valley and the Belubula River.
“It would be an absolute environmental disaster, what are their plans?”
A Newcrest spokeswoman said the company was well prepared.
She said daily geotechnical inspections were conducted on the southern tailings dam embankment.
“These are supplemented by prism downloads which identify movement in the wall and are examined by geotechnical engineers daily,” she said.
“Cadia’s Pollution Incident Response Plan incorporates potential release of tailings and the emergency response team is well-drilled in emergency response techniques.
“There are two containment ponds below the Southern Tailings Storage Facility as well as a significant embankment across the valley below the dam wall, which supports Panuara Road.
“Cadia is working with Blayney Shire Council on solutions for capturing any accidental release of tailings within this catchment area.”
She said it was also working to identify further downstream containment below Panuara Road.
And she said Cadia had “verified” both tailings dams could contain one in 100 year rainfall.
Australian Workers Union [AWU] officials were shown the damage this week and national secretary Daniel Walton said it was significant.
“It really is extremely large,” he said.
“Exactly how the breach can be repaired remains a live question, but one thing we know is it won't be any easy fix or a quick fix.
“The AWU has been meeting with management and we will continue to do so until our concerns are allayed.
“All our questions have been outlined in a formal letter to the company.
“As always, our first and foremost concern remains the safety of our members.”