Frequently Asked Questions
I’ve heard the mine will be 1,500 metres in length and 500 metres deep – how can you expect to hide a mine that big?
The dimensions refer to the length and depth of UNDERGROUND tunnels. This will not be an open cut pit. The mine entrance will be only large enough to drive a vehicle that would fit on a standard road through.
Will the local water supply be affected?
There will be no impact on the local water supply.
The mine property and most of the neighboring properties are connected to mains water (as is the town of Woodside).
Any water used at the mine site (for truck washing and storing water for fire fighting) can be supplied from mains water (SA Water)
The mining operations DO NOT REQUIRE the use of water removed from the mine. Consequently, any water removed from the mine (for worker safety) will be filtered and…
Reinjected into the aquifer.
Will be metered and will remain within the water license allocated to our property.
It should be noted, had the property been acquired for agricultural purposes (for example a winery or for farming) instead of being acquired by Terramin, the land owner would have full rights to draw and use underground water up to their maximum license allocation.
Extensive ground water modelling commissioned in 2013 and Managed Aquifer Recharge tests early in 2019 have confirmed minimal impact is expected during the life of the mine.
Extensive waste water and run-off water (including storm water and sewage) management plans have been submitted as part of the Mining Lease Proposal (MLP). Careful consideration has been given to ensuring no water will escape the site and impact the Inverbrackie Creek (located within 500 metres of the mine site property).
The Adelaide Hills is included as a catchment zone for part of Adelaide’s water supply. This careful waste and storm water management plan therefore is also designed to ensure the mine will have no impact on the catchment.
Will the mine spoil the views from adjoining properties and create a visual eye-sore?
The mine has been designed to be virtually invisible. Extensive studies by landscape architects and their recommended mine site design work has demonstrated minimal visual impacts will occur.
The property purchased by Terramin in 2015 (a dairy known as “Goldwyn”) has natural topography that obscures the proposed mine location and extensive landscaping work and the planting of 40,000 trees and shrubs will create barriers to screen mine buildings and equipment.
The property itself is a 40-hectare site and the mine operations will only occupy a 4 hectare central part of the property, providing a large buffer zone. Further, vegetative screening (trees and shrubs) will help conceal the mine works.
We are confident neighbours will mostly see very little difference from their current views.
Will the mine impact tourism?
Given that the mine will be hardly noticeable, the mine isn’t expected to impact tourism at all.
There is however, considerable historic benefits being enjoyed by the region because it has a history of gold and silver mining dating back to the 1800’s. Many of the place names and roads in the region (for example “Bird in Hand”) draw on this history.
Many of the tourist locations and commercial operations make a feature of the mining heritage and have displays of old mining photographs showing how the region has a rich mining heritage.
How loud will mining operations be?
Two noise monitoring systems have been set-up to provide a baseline for current noise levels in the area. These monitoring stations will continue to operate during the life of the mine.
Mining operations will not exceed current background noise levels (including during the construction phase of the project).
Further, Terramin aims to fall well under the noise level limits set by the Environment Protection Authorities’ standards for noise pollution levels.
What economic benefits will the mine provide locals?
Terramin has a history at Strathalbyn of sponsoring local community groups and events. Almost every sporting club received funds, services or products from Terramin, as well as Community Service clubs and the local CFS and SES.
Recently, Terramin have sponsored the Woodside Warriors soccer club to install clean green pristine solar panels on their club rooms.
As part of the community, Terramin is a member of the Woodside Commerce Association and is always looking for opportunities to provide sponsorship and support for community groups.
Economic modelling has identified the Bird in Hand Gold Mine will…
Directly employ 140 people (100 at the mine and 40 people at the Strathalbyn processing plant)
Indirectly employ a further 600 people
Spend $30 million per annum purchasing goods and services with an estimated 60% spent locally
Inject $50 million into the State Government through direct mine operation taxes.
How will the mine impact traffic in the area?
Traffic studies (measuring existing traffic near the mine) shows that the increase in traffic will be no more than a few percent. This increase in traffic will be caused by 12 truck movements per day (between Bird in Hand and Strathalbyn), average of 4 trucks a day delivering supplies, 10 company light vehicle trips, and mine employees arriving at work and leaving at night (52 workers during the day, 15 at night and 15 on the weekend).
How long will the mine operate for?
The current operating plan is for 5.5 years.
However, during the life of the mine, further studies will be undertaken to determine the full size of the underground ore body. There is potential for the life of the mine to be extended.
In addition, there are various other locations in the region where old abandoned mines exist (during the 1800’s a total of 20 working mines operated in the area).
Terramin aims to build trust with the community by demonstrating its Minimal Impact Mining method can work, and hopefully benefit the community for years into the future.
However, each mine requires the detailed approval processes that have been undertaken for this mine are repeated for every site. Each site is evaluated by the State Government on its own merits. Some sites may be not suitable for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is the ability for the mine to blend in seamlessly with the community and other commercial interests.
Won’t underground blasting affect the water table
The short answer is no. There are several reasons for this; the first is the need to use very small quantities of explosives. This is for economic reasons (explosives are expensive) but also for practical reasons – the greater the disturbance caused by explosives the more water that may enter the mine.
The use of explosives to advance the mining tunnel has been perfected over hundreds of years and at thousands of mine sites. The level of precision involved is very high.
Lastly, the amount of rock and earth mass surrounding each tunnel is enormous. Experience and research show that the there will be no impact on the water from blasting.
How often will underground blasting take place and how noticeable will it be on the surface?
The mine modelling anticipates the need to blast once or twice per day.
Our experience in the Adelaide Hills is that for residents nearby (i.e. within a few hundred meters of the blast) is they notice something but if they weren’t aware a working mine was nearby, would conclude it was caused by something else (such as a truck driving by). The effects are not audible, they may be a feeling of slight vibration.
It is doubtful that someone would be woken from sleep by a blast. But, in any case, no blasting will take place at night.