Dianne Copper Mine

Supporting sustainable redevelopment through baseline monitoring and environmental assessment

C&R provide independent environmental assessments and monitoring programs to support the redevelopment of legacy mine sites in environmentally sensitive areas. These assessments help ensure that renewed operations meet regulatory requirements and minimise impacts on surrounding ecosystems.

Dianne Copper Mine (DCM) – located on Cape York Peninsula – is a historical mine that has remained in care and maintenance since the early 1980s. In the late 2010s, ownership was transferred to Revolver Resources (RR), with the intention of recommencing operations. To meet environmental authority conditions, RR engaged C&R in 2021 to develop and implement a receiving environment monitoring program and groundwater monitoring program for the site.

Over the past 24 months, C&R have undertaken a range of aquatic and terrestrial ecology baseline surveys and impact assessments to support the proposed restart of operations at DCM. This work included:

• Baseline surveys of aquatic ecosystems, including assessments of habitat condition, sediment composition and quality, and the presence of macroinvertebrate, fish, aquatic reptile and macrophyte communities;
• Baseline surveys of terrestrial ecosystems, targeting listed flora and fauna species (including bats, reptiles, birds, mammals and amphibians) through field surveys and comprehensive literature review;
• Assessment of baseline water quality and connectivity between surface water and groundwater systems using chemical signature analysis;
• Impact assessments to evaluate potential effects on identified environmental values and recommend mitigation measures to support sustainable development; and
• Preparation of a self-assessment report under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) for matters of national environmental significance (MNES) potentially occurring in the area.

All work formed part of a comprehensive environmental assessment report (EAR) submitted to the relevant administering authorities for review and assessment.