Government pledge $40million to boost environmental clean-up of Queensland mines

Over $40million in state funding will be committed to manage public safety risks and clean ups of abandoned mine sites in Queensland.

The Palaszczuk Government has announced the funding over five years in a boost to the Department of Natural Resources and Mines program that works on closed mine sites.

"The program has been managing a range of public safety risks from mine sites abandoned with an annual budget of $6 million," said Natural Resources and Mines Minister Dr Anthony Lynham.

Across Queensland there are a reported 15,000 abandoned mine sites, with 3,500 of those situated on state-owned land. In April, the Environmental Protection Order (EPO) was passed, allowing the environmental regulator greater powers to sanction companies, entities or individuals who have failed their environmental responsibilities.

Environment Minister Dr Steven Miles said: "Between these new funds and the recently passed new environmental protection laws the Palaszczuk government has a comprehensive plan to manage existing abandoned mines and avoid the number of abandoned mines increasing."

Follow @MiningGlobal

Read the June 2016 issue of Mining Global magazine