Newcrest Mining has apologised to residents living near its Cadia Valley Operations for the potential health concerns caused by dust coming from the site.
The apology was given by Newcrest interim chief executive officer Sherry Duhe and Cadia Valley Operations general manager Mike Dewar when they appeared at a New South Wales upper house inquiry investigating current and potential impacts of gold, silver, lead and zinc mining on human health, land, air and water quality in the state.
“We haven’t always gotten things right,” Duhe said.
“Recently we’ve seen a breakdown in our relationship with some of our neighbours and we know they have concerns. We could have listened more and communicated better and for this we are sorry.”
Dewar told the inquiry there was no evidence supporting the idea that Cadia was emitting dangerous levels of dust outside of the mine’s boundaries. He has also previously said that the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) was right to highlight issues with the site.
“None of our external monitors (suggested) we were polluting off the premises,” Dewar said.
The parliamentary inquiry launched on July 25 and commenced after Cadia Valley Operations allegedly breached dust pollution policies, and heavy metals were discovered in nearby residents’ blood and rainwater. It will continue through October.
Last week, a Human Health Risk Assessment (HHRA) report conducted by SAGE Environmental Services found “the assessment of potential risks to human health from emissions from Cadia are considered to be low and acceptable”.
The HHRA report is expected to be reviewed by the NSW EPA in light of the environmental regulator recently launching legal proceedings against Newcrest in the NSW Land and Environment Court and it carrying out investigations into how heavy metals found its way into local rainwater.