We seek to minimise impacts on the environment from our mining and processing operations.
Our site operates under an Environmental Authority issued by the Queensland Government and is subject to strict conditions.
We are committed to meeting environmental performance targets and strive for continuous improvement in our environmental management practices.
Continuous improvement
Mount Isa Mines invests in initiatives and projects aimed at protecting our local environment while continuing to operate safely and responsibly.
Day-to-day activities and improvement initiatives take place across all areas and roles of our operations and we work to minimise and mitigate any negative impact from our activities.
If environmental incidents do occur, we strive to take immediate action to remediate and investigate the cause to prevent a recurrence.
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We operate a 24/7 Air Quality Control Centre to continuously monitor and manage emissions from our operations.
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Supporting healthy waterways is an important part of how we manage our operation.
Transparent community engagement
We recognise our responsibility for stewardship of the land we use. We strive to actively engage with our pastoral and community neighbours, as well as traditional native title holders, the Kalkadoon People, to ensure how we operate supports the long-term health of the local environment.
Being transparent about our operations and performance helps to ensure our local communities are satisfied with our approach. We seek to preserve and restore the natural environment throughout our operations’ lifecycle.
Environment strategy
We manage environmental risk in line with Glencore's Environmental Policy.
Key environmental initiatives
Through ongoing investment in monitoring, infrastructure and rehabilitation, we work to minimise our environmental impact and support the long-term health of the local environment.
A key focus is maintaining and making continuous improvements to our Air Quality Monitoring Network. As part of this commitment, we introduced Australia’s first Atmospheric Temperature Profiler, allowing continuous real-time measurement of upper air temperatures up to 1,000 metres above ground.
We have continued to implement projects aimed at reducing emissions and improving our response to potential environmental impacts, including:
- Implemented atmospheric dispersion (eFACs) and meteorological forecasting to predict dust and emission impacts and respond predictively.
- Developed and refined trigger-action-response arrangements requiring operations to be reduced or shut down when emissions may affect the community or approach regulatory limits.
- Improved emission-source identification and procedures for controlling identified sources through installation of a Lidar dust scanner.
- Improved ventilation and dust-capture systems at the Copper Smelter through the installation of an induced-draft feed-port system.
We have significantly strengthened our stormwater containment system since 2012, including:
- 49 new on-site containment structures built.
- 21 new pumps, to protect against overflow.
- 26 kilometres of new pipeline installed.
- 991 megalitre capacity increase in stormwater storage (equivalent to 396 Olympic-sized swimming pools).
- Installation or improvement of water-instrumentation telemetry to provide better system feedback.
- Annual Receiving Environment Monitoring Programs covering waterways, fish health, macroinvertebrates and aquatic ecosystems.
We are constructing a major groundwater remediation system with a design life exceeding 40 years. The project includes:
- Investigation and modelling of mine-related groundwater contamination.
- Additional groundwater-monitoring and extraction bores.
- Identification of five priority remediation zones near Black Star Open Cut, the Waste Rock Embankment and Tailings Storage Facility.
- Construction of seepage-interception trenches.
- Installation of groundwater-extraction bores up to approximately 30 metres deep.
- Six pumping stations to collect intercepted groundwater.
- New high-voltage electrical infrastructure supporting the pumping system.
- Returning captured groundwater to the processing plant for reuse.
- Continuous monitoring and compliance verification after commissioning.
We continue to invest in initiatives that support air quality, rehabilitation works, groundwater and stormwater management and waste management, including:
- continuation of the progressive rehabilitation project for the Handlebar Hill Waste Rock Dump
- reclamation of tailings material as a to substitute for raw materials usage in paste filling operations.
Prioritising community wellbeing
The health and wellbeing of our people and community come first.
Visit our dedicated pages on how we manage air quality, lead and water in Mount Isa.
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Health and safety
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Community
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