Clouds of white dust blowing from the Cadia mine toward adjacent farms has concerned neighbours.
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Flyers Creek resident Daniel Pedersen said he was worried about any risks the dust from the tailings dams posed to drinking water.
"I just want to know what's in the dust blowing across the region I live in and coating the surface of waterholes and roofs of houses that feed the water tanks we rely on," he said.
Cadia says the situation has been worsened by the drought but Mr Pedersen said the drought was 'irrelevant' as previously the company had treated the surface of the tailings dam with aerial spraying to stop the dust spreading.
"Drought is affecting everyone and they have to deal with it, it's costing a fortune feeding livestock," he said.
Cadia general manager, Peter Sharpe said the dust came from a slurry of ground rock and "a low level of benign processing agents" deposited into the tailings dam.
"Cadia does not use cyanide, mercury or arsenic in its processing," he said.
Mr Sharpe said they had been working to manage dust from the tailings dams, particularly since the northern tailings storage facility wall was damaged in March 2018.
I just want to know what's in the dust blowing across the region I live in.
- Daniel Pedersen, nearby resident
"During these unprecedented conditions, Cadia is working with two nationally recognised experts in dust management to implement a new program," he said.
"The new product will be adaptable to our specific deteriorating weather and ground conditions and will better manage the dust issue longer term."
VIDEO: CADIA DUST
Mr Sharpe said the company, like landholders, was hoping for regular rain.
"These dust issues have been compounded by local drought conditions that we, like many local landowners in the area, have not been exempt. We rely on rainfall to help manage our business, and our current dust issue has only worsened due to hot dry conditions and harsh, cracked ground," he said.
Mr Sharpe said Cadia had used aircraft and an amphibious tracked vehicle, known as a panther, to apply dust suppression material.
"This program has been running regularly however has only provided short term solutions. As the drought has worsened, the ground has continued to crack and the dust suppression product has become relatively ineffective," he said.
People with dust concerns can call the Cadia Community Complaints Hotline 1800 063 043.
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