evolutionmining.com.au...2015/11/19 · rehabilitation design criteria, and refining the baseline environmental database. • The objectives of the biological monitoring programme

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COWAL GOLD MINE

SURFACE WATER, GROUNDWATER, METEOROLOGICAL AND BIOLOGICAL MONITORING PROGRAMME

MAY 2015 Document No. SWGMBMP-L

(00679340)

Cowal Gold Mine – Surface Water, Groundwater, Meteorological and Biological Monitoring Programme

00679340

Revision Status Register

Section/Page/ Annexure Revision Number Amendment/Addition Distribution DP&I Approval Date

All SWGMBMP-K November 2009 Document No: 685120

Original Surface Water, Groundwater, Meteorological and Biological Monitoring Programme Management Plan (SWGMBMP)

NOW, DECCW, DII (Fisheries) and

DoP

10 March 2010

Addendum Addendum dated November 2011 Document No: 685128

Addendum to reflect the CGM Water Supply Modification approved by DP&I on 6 July 2011 (to include the eastern saline borefield as an additional water supply source).


DP&I

14 August 2012

Addendum Addendum dated August 2013 Document No: 685129

Addendum to incorporate eastern saline borefield monitoring locations and to incorporate operational changes to surface water and groundwater monitoring programmes.


DP&I

Approval of the Addendum remained pending up until the NSW Minister for Planning granted approval of the CGM’s modified Development Consent on 22 July 2014.

All Revised SWGMBMP-L May 2015 Document No: 679340

Revised to reflect the approved CGM Extension Modification and the Development Consent as modified on 22 July 2014.

NOW, OEH, DPI (Fisheries) and

DP&E

19 November 2015


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TABLE OF CONTENTS Section Page 1 INTRODUCTION 1

1.1 OBJECTIVES AND SCOPE 1 1.2 STRUCTURE OF THIS REPORT 5

2 STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS 6 2.1 DEVELOPMENT CONSENT CONDITIONS 6 2.2 ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION LICENCE CONDITIONS 8 2.3 RELEVANT LEGISLATION 8 2.4 PLANS/GUIDELINES 8 2.5 AUSTRALIAN STANDARDS 9

3 METEOROLOGICAL MONITORING 10 3.1 EXISTING METEOROLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT 10 3.2 METEOROLOGICAL MONITORING PROGRAMME 13

4 SURFACE WATER MONITORING 15 4.1 EIS BASELINE SURFACE WATER MONITORING 15 4.2 SURFACE WATER MONITORING LOCATIONS AND PARAMETERS 16 4.3 SURFACE WATER MONITORING PROGRAMME 20

4.3.1 Up-catchment Diversion System 23 4.3.2 Internal Catchment Drainage System 23 4.3.3 Pit/Void Water 23 4.3.4 Lake Cowal Monitoring 23 4.3.5 Other Waters in and around the Mine Site 24

5 GROUNDWATER MONITORING 26 5.1 EIS BASELINE GROUNDWATER MONITORING 27 5.2 GROUNDWATER MONITORING LOCATIONS AND PARAMETERS 28 5.3 GROUNDWATER MONITORING PROGRAMME 32

5.3.1 Open Pit Dewatering 34 5.3.2 Bland Creek Palaeochannel and Associated Water Supply Pipeline 34 5.3.3 Saline Groundwater Supply Borefields and Associated Water Supply

Pipeline 36 5.3.4 Other Waters in and around the Mine Site 37

6 WATER SAMPLING EQUIPMENT, HANDLING, TRANSPORT AND QUALITY PROCEDURES 38 6.1 SAMPLE COLLECTION, HANDLING AND TRANSPORTATION 38

6.1.1 Lake Water 38 6.1.2 Lake Inflow Sites 38 6.1.3 Groundwater 38 6.1.4 Contained Water Storages 39

6.2 QUALITY CONTROL 39

7 BIOLOGICAL MONITORING 40 7.1 BIOLOGICAL MONITORING PROGRAMME 42

7.1.1 Fish and Aquatic Invertebrates 42 7.1.1.1 Change in Lake Water Quality 42 7.1.1.2 Removal/Modification of Habitat 42 7.1.1.3 Movement of Dust Away from Active Areas to Lake Environs 43 7.1.1.4 Lake Sediments 43


TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued)

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8 INVESTIGATIVE TRIGGERS 45 8.1 SURFACE WATER MONITORING 46 8.2 GROUNDWATER MONITORING 46 8.3 BIOLOGICAL MONITORING 48

8.3.1 Fish and Aquatic Invertebrates 48 8.3.1.1 Change in Lake Water Quality 48 8.3.1.2 Removal/Modification of Habitat 48 8.3.1.3 Movement of Dust Away From Active Areas to Lake Environs 48 8.3.1.4 Lake Sediments 49

8.4 REVIEW PROCEDURE 49

9 DATA MANAGEMENT 52

10 POST-MINE OPERATIONS MONITORING PROGRAMMES 53 10.1 SURFACE WATER MONITORING PROGRAMME 53 10.2 GROUNDWATER MONITORING PROGRAMME 55 10.3 BIOLOGICAL MONITORING PROGRAMME 57

11 COMPLAINTS REGISTER 60

12 COMMUNITY CONSULTATION 61

13 INDEPENDENT ENVIRONMENTAL AUDIT AND INDEPENDENT MONITORING PANEL 62

14 REPORTING AND REVIEW OF THIS SWGMBMP 64 14.1 ANNUAL REVIEW 64 14.2 EPL REPORTING REQUIREMENTS 65 14.3 REVIEW OF THIS SWGMBMP 65

15 REFERENCES 67

16 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS 69

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1 Requirements of the Development Consent Table 2 Meteorological Parameters Table 3 BOM Station Locations and Recording Periods Table 4 Historical Meteorological Data Summary Table 5 Summary of Lake Cowal Baseline Water Quality Table 6 Summary of Contained Water Storages Table 7 Surface Water Monitoring Parameters and Analytical Methods Table 8 Surface Water Monitoring Programme Table 9 Lake Cowal Inflow Monitoring Sites Table 10 NOW Lachlan River Stream Gauge Details Table 11 Bland Creek Palaeochannel Baseline Groundwater Analysis Table 12 Baseline Groundwater Monitoring Results (1995) – ML Area Table 13 Regional and ML Area Groundwater Monitoring Sites Table 14 Monitoring Bore Locations Table 15 Groundwater Monitoring Parameters and Analytical Methods


TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued)

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LIST OF TABLES (Continued)

Table 16 Groundwater Monitoring Programme Table 17 Regional NOW and Registered Private Bores Table 18 Sediment Contaminant Trigger Values Table 19 Data Management

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1 CGM Locality Figure 2 General Arrangement of Approved CGM Figure 3 Regional Meteorological and Surface Water Flow Monitoring Locations Figure 4 Annual and Seasonal Windroses for the CGM (2012) Figure 5 ML 1535 Surface Water and Groundwater Monitoring Locations Figure 6 Lake Monitoring Locations Figure 7 Regional, BCPC and Eastern Saline Borefield Groundwater Monitoring Locations

LIST OF APPENDICES

Appendix A Baseline Water Monitoring Locations Table A-1 Baseline Surface Water Monitoring Transects and Sites Figure A-1 Baseline Lake Monitoring Locations Figure A-2 Baseline Regional Groundwater Monitoring Locations Figure A-3 Baseline Local Groundwater Monitoring Locations – ML Area Figure A-4 Baseline BCPC Borefield Monitoring Locations Appendix B Bore Construction Details Appendix B-1 ML Area Bore Construction and Aquifer Interception Details Appendix B-2 Regional (Palaeochannel) Bore Construction and Aquifer

Interception Details Appendix C Sediment Sampling Methodology

LIST OF ATTACHMENTS

Attachment 1 CGM Environmental Management System


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1 INTRODUCTION The Cowal Gold Mine (the CGM) is located approximately 38 kilometres (km) north of West Wyalong in New South Wales (NSW) (Figure 1). Barrick (Cowal) Pty Ltd (Barrick) is the owner and operator of the CGM. Barrick is a wholly owned subsidiary of Barrick (Australia Pacific) Pty Ltd. Development Consent for the CGM (including the Bland Creek Palaeochannel Borefield water supply pipeline) was granted by the NSW Minister for Urban Affairs and Planning under Part 4 of the NSW Environmental Planning and Assessment Act, 1979 (EP&A Act) on 26 February 1999 (DA 14/98). Development Consent (DA 2011/64) for the operation of the eastern saline borefield was granted by the Forbes Shire Council (FSC) on 20 December 2010. Barrick was granted approval by the NSW Minister for Planning to modify the Development Consent (DA 14/98) for the CGM Extension Modification under Section 75W of the EP&A Act on 22 July 2014. The CGM Extension Modification involves the continuation and extension of open pit mining and processing operations at the CGM for an additional operational life of approximately 5 years (i.e. to 2024). The general arrangement of the approved CGM is provided in Figure 2. A copy of the Development Consent (DA 14/98) for the CGM (as modified on 22 July 2014) is available on the Barrick website (www.barrick.com). The original Surface Water, Groundwater, Meteorological and Biological Monitoring Programme Management Plan (SWGMBMP) for the CGM was prepared in November 2009 in accordance with the requirements of the Development Consent in consultation with the NSW Office of Water (NOW), the NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water (DECCW) and Department of Industry and Investment (Fisheries) and was approved by the then NSW Department of Planning (DoP) in March 2010. Two Addenda to the SWGMBMP have been prepared (dated November 2011 and August 2013). The November 2011 Addendum was approved by the former DoP in August 2012 and approval of the August 2013 Addendum remained pending up until the NSW Minister for Planning granted approval of the CGM’s modified Development Consent on 22 July 2014. This revised SWGMBMP has been prepared to reflect the CGM Extension Modification and the modified Development Consent and relevant changes to other CGM environmental management plans. This revised SWGMBMP has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of Development Consent Condition 4.5(b) (and other relevant Development Consent Conditions) (as modified on 22 July 2014) and incorporates the November 2011 and August 2013 Addenda (where relevant). As required by Development Consent Condition 4.5(b), the NOW, the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) and the NSW Department of Primary Industries (Fisheries) (DPI Fisheries) have been consulted during the preparation of this SWGMBMP.

1.1 OBJECTIVES AND SCOPE The objectives of this SWGMBMP are to: (i) fulfil the relevant Development Consent conditions; (ii) provide a description of baseline surface water, groundwater, meteorological and biological

monitoring and therefore, information against which on-going monitoring results can be compared, where baseline monitoring data is sufficient;

(iii) establish a monitoring programme which contributes to the assessment of the effectiveness of environmental impact mitigation measures;


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(iv) outline a process by which administering authorities and stakeholders can regularly assess and confirm the effectiveness of the management strategies; and

(v) provide details of the surface water, groundwater, meteorological and biological monitoring programmes during the operations phase of the CGM and details the proposed strategies for monitoring during the post-mine operations phase.

The technical objectives of the individual monitoring programmes which comprise the SWGMBMP are provided below: • The objective of the surface water monitoring programme is to collect data in order to:

– identify existing anthropogenic influences on the Lake; – review the on-site water management structures and their effectiveness; – establish degrees of flux in the Lake habitat to apply to the biological components of the

SWGMBMP; – determine the event of frequencies of various rainfall events and subsequently review the

performance of site water management structures (e.g. sediment dams, diversion channels); – establish the lake catchment characteristics to provide a holistic appraisal of the Lake and

the processes which alter its hydrology and water quality; and – gauge the effects of surface water flows in Bland Creek on Lake water levels.

• The objective of the groundwater monitoring programme is to collect data in order to:

– provide a means by which potential impacts such as drawdown effects from groundwater extraction and groundwater quality effects from seepage may be assessed.

• The objective of the meteorological monitoring programme is to collect data in order to:

– provide information for the understanding of Lake hydrological and meteorological processes, verifying parameters relevant to the potential noise and/or air quality issues, reviewing the site water balance, design criteria of water management structures and rehabilitation design criteria, and refining the baseline environmental database.

• The objectives of the biological monitoring programme are to:

– apply long-term monitoring results to enable the detection of significant changes in the biological components of the Lake and the identification of the mining operation’s role in such changes; and

– establish the basis from which any short-term effects (e.g. an accident at the mine, or elsewhere in the catchment) or any mortality of birds or fish for whatever reason, could be immediately investigated and assessed in terms of prior conditions.

In March 2008, the Development Consent was modified to remove the requirement to continue baseline biological monitoring and enabled the SWGMBMP to adopt an approach that is consistent with the Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC) and Agriculture and Resource Management Council of Australia and New Zealand (ARMCANZ) Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality (ANZECC/ARMCANZ Water Quality Guidelines) (ANZECC and ARMCANZ, 2000). The Development Consent modification was considered justified on the following basis: • to maintain consistency with the ANZECC/ARMCANZ Water Quality Guidelines, which is in

accordance with the recommendations made by the CGM’s Independent Monitoring Panel (IMP) in their 2005 report;


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• to maintain consistency with the ANZECC/ARMCANZ Water Quality Guidelines, which is aimed at improving the SWGMBMP; and

• cessation of baseline monitoring would not decrease Barrick's ability to detect any potential adverse environmental impacts from the CGM.

As such, the SWGMBMP was revised to: a) focus monitoring so it is relevant to the potential impact pathways from the CGM to Lake Cowal

biology;

b) adopt an approach to the assessment of potential impacts on Lake Cowal resulting from the CGM that is consistent with the ANZECC/ARMCANZ Water Quality Guidelines; and

c) provide a more useful and effective biological monitoring programme. This SWGMBMP forms a part of the CGM’s Environmental Management Strategy prepared in accordance with Development Consent Condition 9.1(a). A plan showing the CGM’s environmental management system including the relationship between the environmental management plans and monitoring programmes required under the Development Consent is provided in Attachment 1.

1.2 STRUCTURE OF THIS REPORT An overview of the main text sections of this SWGMBMP is presented below: Section 1: Provides an introduction to this SWGMBMP and outlines the objectives and scope of

the SWGMBMP.

Section 2: Identifies relevant statutory requirements relevant to this SWGMBMP.

Section 3: Describes the CGM meteorological monitoring programme.

Section 4: Details the CGM surface water monitoring programme.

Section 5: Describes the CGM groundwater monitoring programme.

Section 6: Outlines the sampling, handling and quality control procedures to be used in the SWGMBMP.

Section 7: Presents the CGM biological monitoring programme.

Section 8: Details trigger levels at which investigations will be undertaken.

Section 9: Describes the methods to be used for data management, reporting, review of the monitoring programmes and investigative triggers.

Section 10: Details the post-mine operations monitoring programme strategy.

Section 11: Details complaint recording and reporting procedures.

Section 12: Presents community consultation requirements.

Section 13: Details the Independent Environmental Audit requirements and the Independent Monitoring Panel review procedures.

Section 14: Outlines the reporting and review requirements relevant to this SWGMBMP.

Section 15: Lists the references cited in this SWGMBMP.

Section 16: List the abbreviations and acronyms used in this SWGMBMP.


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2 STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS The statutory requirements relevant to this SWGMBMP are contained in: • the conditions of Development Consent (DA 14/98); and • the conditions of the CGM’s Environment Protection Licence (EPL) No. 11912. Details of these statutory requirements are described in Sections 2.1 and 2.2. As required by Development Consent (DA 2011/64), the required bore licences for the Eastern Saline Borefield have been obtained. Licensing details for these bores are provided in the Cowal Gold Mine Water Management Plan (WMP). In addition, a number of regional plans and statutory guidelines are also relevant to this SWGMBMP and are summarised in Section 2.3. 2.1 DEVELOPMENT CONSENT CONDITIONS This SWGMBMP has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of Condition 4.5(b) of the Development Consent. The requirements of Condition 4.5(b) are summarised in Table 1, along with where they are addressed within this SWGMBMP.

Table 1 Requirements of the Development Consent

Development Consent Condition Section

4.5 Water Monitoring b) The Applicant shall prepare and implement a detailed monitoring program for the development to

the satisfaction of the Secretary. This plan must be prepared in consultation with NOW, OEH, DPI (Fisheries), and be directed towards monitoring the potential impacts of the mine, including water in the up catchment diversion system, internal catchment drainage system, dewatering bores, all Borefields associated with the development, and water supply pipeline, pit/void, Lake Cowal, and any other waters in and around the mine site for all stages of the development. The monitoring program will include the development of adequate chemical and biological monitoring in the waters of Lake Cowal, when water is present, by suitably qualified and experienced staff or consultants to the satisfaction of the NOW and OEH, and in the case of biological monitoring DPI (Fisheries). NOW and OEH must be satisfied as to sampling design, including sample locations, sample frequency, sample handling, transport and analysis, sampling parameters and reporting of analysis results. The results and interpretation of surface and ground water monitoring (including biological monitoring) are to be published on the Applicant’s website for the development on a regular basis, or as directed by the Secretary.

Sections 4, 5,

7 and 10

Sections 4, 6 and 7

Section 14

6.2 Meteorological Monitoring For the life of the development, the Applicant shall ensure that there is a meteorological station in the vicinity of the site that complies with the requirements in the Approved Methods for Sampling of Air Pollutants in New South Wales guideline.

Section 3

In addition to the above, other Development Consent Conditions relevant to the preparation of this SWGMBMP include: • Condition 4.6 provides:

The Applicant shall as a landowner have an on-going regard for the provisions of the latest versions of the Jemalong Land and Water Management Plan, Lake Cowal Land and Water Management Plan, Mid-Lachlan Regional Vegetation Management Plan, and any future catchment/land and water management plans that may become relevant to the area.

This condition is addressed in Sections 2.4 and 4.3.


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• Condition 4.2(a)(ii) provides: All pipeline and borefield infrastructure for the development shall be laid in such a way so as not to impede the passage of fish or other animals, or interfere with flood behaviour or the passage of boats and vehicles.

This condition is addressed in Section 5.3.3.

• Condition 4.2(a)(iii) provides: All pipeline and borefield infrastructure for the development shall be equipped with an automatic shut down device so water pumping is immediately stopped in the event of any pipe rupture. The water supply shall not be restarted until the rupture is located and repaired.

This condition is addressed in Section 5.3.3.

• Condition 4.3 provides: There shall be no disposal of water from the internal catchment drainage system to Lake Cowal under any circumstances.

This condition is addressed in Sections 4.3.2 and 8.1.

• Condition 4.4(a)(ii) provides: management of the quality and quantity of surface and ground water within and around the mine site, including water in the up catchment diversion system, internal catchment drainage system, dewatering bores, Bland Creek Palaeochannel borefield and water supply pipeline from the borefield, which shall include preparation of monitoring programs (see below);

This condition is addressed in Sections 4.3 and 5.3.

• Conditions 4.5(a)(i) and (ii) provide: The Applicant shall construct and locate:

(i) surface water monitoring positions in consultation with NOW and OEH, and to the satisfaction of the Secretary, at least three months prior to the commencement of construction works unless otherwise directed by the Secretary; and

(ii) groundwater monitoring positions in consultation with NOW and OEH, and to the satisfaction of the Secretary, at least six months prior to the commencement of construction works unless otherwise directed by the Secretary.

These conditions are addressed in Sections 4.2 and 5.2.

• Condition 9.4(a)(v) outlines the requirements for a complaints register and is reproduced in full and discussed in Section 11.

• Condition 9.1(d) details the requirement to establish a Community Environmental Monitoring and Consultative Committee (CEMCC). This condition is addressed in Section 12.

• Condition 9.2 identifies the requirements for an Independent Environmental Audit and for the CGM’s Independent Monitoring Panel. This condition is addressed in Section 13.

• Condition 9.1(b) establishes the Annual Review reporting requirements. This condition is addressed in Section 14.

• Condition 9.1(c) outlines the review requirements for this SWGMBMP. This Condition is addressed in Section 14.3.


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2.2 ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION LICENCE CONDITIONS The CGM’s EPL (No. 11912) includes requirements relevant to surface water and groundwater monitoring locations and parameters, incident notification and reporting. The EPL notification and reporting requirements relevant to this SWGMBMP are outlined in Section 14.2.

2.3 RELEVANT LEGISLATION Barrick will operate the CGM consistent with Development Consent (DA 14/98) and any other legislation that is applicable to an approved project under section 75W of the EP&A Act. In addition to the EP&A Act, the following NSW Acts are relevant to this SWGMBMP: • Water Management Act, 2000;

• Water Act, 1912;

• Protection of the Environment Operations Act, 1997 and

• Soil Conservation Act, 1938. This SWGMBMP has considered relevant provisions of these Acts and relevant licences or approvals required under these Acts will be obtained as required for the modified approved CGM.

2.4 PLANS/GUIDELINES A number of regional plans and statutory guidelines are relevant to this SWGMBMP including those summarised below. The integration of this SWGMBMP with these plans and guidelines is recognised as important. Where practicable and appropriate, management recommendations resulting from the plans/guidelines have been incorporated into this SWGMBMP. In addition, Development Consent Condition 4.6 requires that regard must be had to the latest version of the Mid-Lachlan Regional Vegetation Management Plan. The Mid Lachlan Regional Vegetation Management Plan (referred to in Condition 4.6) was repealed with effect from 1 December 2005. Jemalong Land and Water Management Plan The Jemalong Land and Water Management Plan provides for the alleviation of land and water degradation, improvement of natural resource management and sustainability of agriculture and the environment in the Jemalong Irrigation District. The plan recommends the implementation of surface schemes to reduce waterlogging and groundwater accessions, remediation of any degraded lands and the reduction of water erosion and sedimentation to reduce salinisation of land and water bodies. Performance indictors include water table trends, reductions in visible salinity and improved health of wetlands and remnant vegetation. Routine soil salinity surveys are recommended to indicate whether adverse effects on soil and water quality by current land management practices are being minimised. Performance indicators are to be monitored in accordance with a programme based on Jemalong Irrigation Limited’s Irrigation Corporation Water Management Works Licence and Environmental Protection Licence.


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Lake Cowal Land and Water Management Plan This plan identifies environmental issues relevant to Lake Cowal including evidence of soil erosion, declining soil structure and increasing salinity. It recommends that land holders, including Barrick, restrict new scrub clearance to minimise impacts on soil structure and encourage the revegetation of the Lake and margins to slow the rate and volume of runoff, thereby reducing sedimentation of the Lake. It also recommends monitoring of the quality of surface water and salinity in Lake Cowal and Bland Creek. Lachlan Catchment Action Plan The Lachlan Catchment Action Plan provides a framework for the investment in works, projects, planning and research that are considered necessary to achieve sustainable and productive landscapes in the catchment (Lachlan Catchment Management Authority, 2009). The Lachlan Catchment Action Plan reflects the intention of the Lachlan Catchment Management Authority to develop and deliver innovative and integrated projects to address the causes that have led to a decline in the quality of natural resources (ibid.). Consistent with the Natural Resource Commission Standards, the Lachlan Catchment Action Plan provides specific catchment and management targets, which reflect broader state-based targets (ibid.). ANZECC Guidelines The following ANZECC guideline is referenced in, and is relevant to, this SWGMBMP: • Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council and Agriculture and

Resource Management Council of Australia and New Zealand (ANZECC and ARMCANZ) (2000) National Water Quality Management Strategy No. 4: Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality Vols 1 & 2.

2.5 AUSTRALIAN STANDARDS Australian Standards are primarily referenced in Section 6 and address the type of sampling equipment and containers to be used in sample collection and storage. The following standards are referenced in, and are relevant to, this SWGMBMP: • Australian Standard/New Zealand Standard (AS/NZS) 5667.1: 1998 Water quality – Sampling –

Part 1: Guidance on the design of sampling programs, sampling techniques and the preservation and handling of samples.

• AS/NZS 5667.4: 1998 Water quality – Sampling – Part 4: Guidance on sampling from lakes, natural and man-made.

• AS/NZS 5667.6: 1998 Water quality – Sampling – Part 6: Guidance on sampling of rivers and streams.

• AS/NZS 5667.10: 1998 Water quality – Sampling – Part 10: Guidance on sampling of waste waters.

• AS/NZS 5667.11: 1998 Water quality – Sampling – Part 11: Guidance on sampling of groundwaters.


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3 METEOROLOGICAL MONITORING An on-site meteorological station is used to monitor meteorological conditions at the CGM. The meteorological station is subject to regular maintenance and servicing and complies with the requirements in the Approved Methods for Sampling of Air Pollutants in New South Wales (NSW Environment Protection Authority [EPA], 2007) in accordance with Development Consent Condition 6.2. Meteorological conditions will continue to be monitored at the CGM for the parameters listed in Table 2.

Table 2

Meteorological Parameters

Parameter Units Rainfall Millimetres (mm) Temperature degrees Celsius (°C) Relative Humidity % Wind Direction degrees Wind Velocity kilometres per hour (km/h) Barometric Pressure hectopascals (hPa) Solar Radiation watts per square metre (W/m2)

3.1 EXISTING METEOROLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT The Cowal region is located on the boundaries of the south-eastern semi-arid and the south-eastern temperate regions of Australia (Austin and Nix, 1978). The closest Commonwealth Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) weather stations to the CGM are the West Wyalong Airport Automatic Weather Station (AWS) (050017) and Wyalong Post Office (073054) (Figure 3). The details of each station are provided in Table 3. A summary of the historical meteorological data for these BoM stations is provided in Table 4 and discussed below.

Table 3 BOM Station Locations and Recording Periods

BOM Station Station Number Approximate Location

Relative to the CGM Period of Record

West Wyalong Airport Automatic Weather Station (AWS)

050017 45 km south-west 1999-Present

Wyalong Post Office 073054 38 km south-west 1895 - Present Source: BOM (2014a, 2014b)


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Table 4 Historical Meteorological Data Summary

Month

Rainfall (mm) Temperature (degrees Celsius [oC]) Relative Humidity (percent [%])

West Wyalong Airport AWS 1 Wyalong Post Office

2 West Wyalong Airport

AWS 1 Wyalong Post Office 3 West Wyalong Airport AWS 4 Wyalong Post Office 5

Min. Max. Min. Max. 9 am 3 pm 9 am 3 pm January 20.6 41.5 18.2 34.1 17.6 32.8 48 25 54 32

February 52.0 39.1 17.9 32.2 17.5 31.9 58 33 61 35

March 38.7 38.5 14.3 28.7 14.5 28.7 61 33 62 37

April 19.2 35.0 9.5 24.0 10.0 23.7 62 38 66 43

May 27.4 39.0 5.6 19.1 6.8 18.7 74 47 78 51

June 39.1 42.7 4.1 15.0 4.2 14.9 88 62 87 61

July 40.7 41.7 3.0 14.3 3.0 14.1 90 62 87 62

August 35.3 38.7 3.4 16.1 3.9 16.0 80 53 79 53

September 33.7 36.8 5.8 20.6 6.2 19.5 67 44 69 46

October 49.0 45.7 8.7 24.1 9.4 23.4 55 36 58 39

November 46.2 36.6 13.0 28.5 12.6 27.3 54 31 58 35

December 52.6 43.9 15.1 30.8 15.4 30.6 48 28 54 34

Annual Average 452.5 479.2 9.9 24.0 10.1 23.5 65 41 68 44 Source: BOM (2014a, 2014b). 1 For the period 1999 to October 2014. 2 For the period 1895 to October 2014. 3 For the period 1950 to October 2014. 4 For the period 1999 to 2010. 5 For the period 1970 to 2010.


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Temperature Table 4 indicates that regional temperatures are warmest from November to March and coolest from May to September. Average daily maximum temperature records indicate that January is typically the hottest month and July the coldest (Table 4). Wind Speed and Direction Representative windroses for the CGM have been generated using data from the CGM’s meteorological station (Pacific Environment Limited [PEL], 2013). Annual and seasonal windroses for the CGM are illustrated on Figure 4. The windroses indicate that, over the year, the area experiences winds from all directions but most commonly from the south south-west (PEL, 2013). Autumn and spring windroses are similar to the annual windrose (PEL, 2013). In summer, there is an addition of a significant proportion of winds from the east-northeast (PEL, 2013). Winter winds are generally from the western sector (PEL, 2013). Rainfall Average monthly rainfall data recorded at stations in the region indicate moderate seasonality, with higher average monthly rainfall totals being recorded in the winter months (Table 4). Relative Humidity Relative humidity records for each of the regional stations indicate higher humidity in winter and lower humidity in summer (Table 4).

3.2 METEOROLOGICAL MONITORING PROGRAMME In accordance with Development Consent Condition 6.2, the site meteorological station will continue to be used to monitor meteorological conditions at the CGM for the life of the development. The meteorological station will continue to monitor the parameters presented in Table 2.

The Environmental Manager will be responsible for the management of all meteorological monitoring data. Data will be stored on an electronic database to allow ready access to the data when required. Monitoring equipment will continue to be maintained and calibrated quarterly. A record of this maintenance will be held on site. The on-site meteorological station will be used to provide data for predicting noise, dust and blasting impacts associated with the operation of the CGM. Rainfall data will also be used in determining sampling frequencies for retained water storages and erosion and sediment control structures as described in the WMP and Erosion and Sediment Control Management Plan (ESCMP). Further details are also provided in Section 4.

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4 SURFACE WATER MONITORING

4.1 EIS BASELINE SURFACE WATER MONITORING Surface Water Flows During baseline monitoring in 1991 to 1992, surface water flow was recorded continuously by the then Department of Land and Water Conservation (DLWC) at automatic stream gauges on the Lachlan River (at the Jemalong Weir) (Figure 3) and the mid reaches of Bland Creek (at Marsden). Lake Water Levels The water level in Lake Cowal was monitored at a fixed gauging board located approximately 0.5 km to the east of the CGM adjacent to the P3 baseline monitoring site (refer Figure A-1 of Appendix A). The lake water level was recorded on a monthly basis during 1991 and 1992. Surface Water Quality Baseline surface water quality was monitored in Lake Cowal during the period 1991 to 1992. The baseline monitoring programme was undertaken to characterise the existing surface water environment during studies conducted for the Lake Cowal Gold Project Environmental Impact Statement (NSR, 1995) and Cowal Gold Project Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) (North Limited, 1998a) and is presented below. Baseline water quality monitoring was undertaken at monitoring sites along six transects as recommended in the baseline monitoring study design of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) (NSR, 1995) (refer Figure A-1 of Appendix A). The six baseline monitoring programme transects included: • the Lachlan floodway transect (Sites L1 to L13 and the Lachlan floodway inflow site); • the irrigation channel transect (Sites I1 to l4 and the irrigation channel inflow site); • the Bland Creek transect (Sites B1 to B6 and Bland Creek inflow site); • the east shore transect (Sites E1 to E5); • the Project transect (Sites P1 to P3); and • the control transect (Sites C1 to C3). The location co-ordinates of these sites are presented in Appendix A. Surface water quality parameters monitored during the EIS (North Limited, 1998a) baseline monitoring programme included the following physical and chemical characteristics: • total suspended solids; • pH; • electrical conductivity (EC); • turbidity; • alkalinity; • temperature; • lake water level; • total phosphorus;


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• total oxidisable nitrogen; • total metals (arsenic [As], cadmium [Cd], copper [Cu], mercury [Hg], lead [Pb], and zinc [Zn]); and • dissolved metals (As, Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb, and Zn). A summary of Lake Cowal baseline surface water quality results is provided in Table 5, including a comparison with the ANZECC and ARMCANZ (2000) guideline values.

Table 5 Summary of Lake Cowal Baseline Water Quality

Parameter# Aquatic Ecosystems^~ Livestock Watering^ Lake Cowal Baseline Water

Quality (1991 - 1992)

pH 6.5 to 8.0 for freshwater lakes

No trigger values given 8.27 – 8.67

EC/TDS EC triggers for slightly disturbed ecosystems – lakes

20 – 30 µS/cm1

TDS triggers 4,000 mg/L beef cattle,

5,000 mg/L sheep

EC 222 – 1557 µS/cm

NTU/SS (mg/L) Turbidity triggers for slightly disturbed ecosystems – lakes

1 – 20 NTU2

No trigger values given 22 – 224 mg/L

As (mg/L) (total) 0.008 0.5 0.0026(3) Cd (mg/L) (total) 0.0006 0.01 0.000055(3) Cu (mg/L) (total) 0.001 1.0 cattle, 0.4 sheep 0.006(3) Hg (mg/L) (total) 0.00006 0.002 >50% of samples less than

Method of Detection Limit Pb (mg/L) (total) 0.001 0.1 0.0029(3) Zn (mg/L) (total) 0.0024 20.0 0.012(3)

After: North Limited (1998a) ^ Guideline values in accordance with ANZECC and ARMCANZ (2000). ~ 99% protection level trigger values for toxicants. 1 ANZECC and ARMCANZ (2000) notes that conductivity in lakes is generally low, but will vary depending upon

catchment geology. 2 ANZECC and ARMCANZ (2000) notes that lakes in catchments with highly dispersible soils will have high turbidity. 3 Average value.

4.2 SURFACE WATER MONITORING LOCATIONS AND PARAMETERS Monitoring Locations In accordance with Development Consent Condition 4.5(b), a surface water monitoring programme for the CGM has been developed and is presented below. Surface water monitoring will be undertaken at specific areas within Mining Lease (ML) 1535 (including Internal Catchment Drainage System [ICDS] contained water storages D1, D2, D3, D4, D5, D6, D8B, D9 and D10) and within Lake Cowal. A summary of the function and characteristics of the contained water storages is provided in Table 6, with the location of the storages shown on Figure 5.


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Table 6 Summary of Contained Water Storages

Storage Number Catchment/Function Approximate

Storage Capacity (ML)

D1 (Existing)

Runoff from northern perimeter of the northern waste rock emplacement. Collected water is pumped to D6.

57

D2 (Existing)

Runoff/seepage from run-of-mine (ROM) and low grade stockpile areas from the northern waste rock emplacement area, the batters of the northern tailings storage facility and other areas within the ICDS. Collected water is pumped to D6 or D9.

195

D3 (Existing)

Runoff from perimeter catchment surrounding the open pit and the perimeter waste rock emplacement areas. Collected water is pumped to D6.

39

D4 (Existing)

Runoff from the southern perimeter of the southern waste rock emplacement. Collected water is pumped to D6 or D9.

69

D5 (As modified for the

CGM Extension Modification)

Process plant area drainage collection. Water is pumped to D6. 92

D6 (Existing)

Process water supply storage. Main source of process plant make-up water requirements.

10

D8B (Existing)

Runoff from southern waste rock emplacement, the batters of the southern tailings storage facility and other areas within the ICDS (including ROM areas). Water is pumped to D9.

43

D9 (Existing)

Process water supply storage. Storage for raw water. Water is pumped to D6. Some water used for tailings storage facilities lift construction.

726

D10 (Additional storage

for the CGM Extension

Modification)

Process water supply storage. Storage for raw water. Water is pumped to D9. 1,500

Source: Barrick (2013) Monitoring will also be conducted at the North and South Up-Catchment Diversions (Figure 5), and at sediment control structures and toe drains constructed around the waste rock emplacements. Surface water monitoring will continue to be undertaken in Lake Cowal along the six transects used during the baseline monitoring programme (Section 4.1) at sites located close to the CGM, within central Lake Cowal and at sites distant from the CGM (i.e. close to the extents of Lake Cowal) as well as Lake Cowal inflow sites (Figure 6). Monitoring will be conducted at the monitoring locations when the water level in Lake Cowal is at or above 204.5 meters (m) Australian Height Datum (AHD) or when determined by the Environmental Manager (or delegate). Monitoring at sites in the eastern section of the lake, some 3 to 6 km from the CGM, would be expected to be less susceptible to the potential effects the mine may have (i.e. potential mine effects would be detectable in close proximity to the source [transect sites P1, P2 and P3] before they would be detectable at a distance [transect sites C1, C2 and C3]). Monitoring Parameters A list of surface water parameters that will be monitored is presented in Table 7, including relevant analytical methods for each parameter.


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Table 7 Surface Water Monitoring Parameters and Analytical Methods

Parameter Description Abbreviation Units Analytical Method

Alkalinity CaCO3 mg/L Laboratory analysis – APHA 2320 A/B Suspended Solids* SS mg/L Laboratory analysis – APHA 2540 D Acidity – Alkalinity scale* pH - Field test – APHA 4500-H+ B Electrical Conductivity* EC µS/cm Field test – APHA 2510 B Turbidity - NTU Field test – APHA 2130 B Dissolved Oxygen DO mg/L Field test – APHA 4500 OG Temperature - 0C Field test – APHA 2550 B Lake Depth - m Field test Lake Water Level* - m Field observation (gauge board) Lachlan River Flows - m3/sec NOW Stream gauge Total Iron Fe mg/L Laboratory analysis – USEPA 6020 ICP/MS Calcium Ca mg/L Laboratory analysis – USEPA 6010 ICP/AES Magnesium Mg mg/L Laboratory analysis – USEPA 6010 ICP/AES Potassium K mg/L Laboratory analysis – USEPA 6010 ICP/AES Sodium Na mg/L Laboratory analysis – USEPA 6010 ICP/AES Chloride Cl- mg/L Laboratory analysis – APHA 4500-Cl- B Sulphate SO4

2- mg/L Laboratory analysis – APHA 4500 SO4- E Oil and Grease - mg/L Laboratory analysis – APHA 5520 B/E Cations - mg/L Laboratory analysis – USEPA 6010 ICP/AES Anions - mg/L Laboratory analysis – USEPA 6020 ICP/MS Total* and Dissolved Arsenic As µg/L Laboratory analysis – USEPA 6020 ICP/MS Total* and Dissolved Cadmium Cd µg/L Laboratory analysis – USEPA 6020 ICP/MS Total and Dissolved Copper Cu µg/L Laboratory analysis – USEPA 6020 ICP/MS Total and Dissolved Molybdenum Mo µg/L Laboratory analysis – USEPA 6020 ICP/MS Total and Dissolved Nickel Ni µg/L Laboratory analysis – USEPA 6020 ICP/MS Total* and Dissolved Lead Pb µg/L Laboratory analysis – USEPA 6020 ICP/MS Total and Dissolved Antimony Sb µg/L Laboratory analysis – USEPA 6020 ICP/MS Total and Dissolved Selenium Se µg/L Laboratory analysis – USEPA 6020 ICP/MS Total* and Dissolved Zinc Zn µg/L Laboratory analysis – USEPA 6020 ICP/MS

After: ALS Laboratory Group (pers. comm., March 2009). * Baseline Water Quality Parameter.

4.3 SURFACE WATER MONITORING PROGRAMME In accordance with Development Consent Condition 4.5(b), the surface water monitoring programme is presented in Table 8 and is discussed in the following sections. The table outlines the monitoring locations, frequency of monitoring and surface water parameters to be monitored. Surface water monitoring sites within and around the ML area include sites associated with: • the Up-catchment Diversion System (UCDS); • the ICDS; • the pit/void sumps; • Lake Cowal (including Lake Cowal inflow sites); and • other waters (i.e. the Lachlan River).


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Table 8 Surface Water Monitoring Programme

CGM Component Site Monitoring Frequency Parameter/Analyte

Up-catchment Diversion System

Up-catchment diversions north and south (UCD north and UCD south)

Monthly and following rainfall events of 20 mm or greater in a 24 hour period

Suspended Solids, EC, pH.

Internal Catchment Drainage System

Contained water storages D1 and D4

Monthly and following rainfall events of 20 mm or greater in a 24 hour period


Contained water storages D2, D3, D5, D6, D8B, D9 and D10

Quarterly Oil and grease, EC, pH, dissolved oxygen. Total hardness, total suspended solids (TSS) and total dissolved solids (TDS). Ca, Mg, K, sodium, chloride, sulphate. Dissolved As, Cd, Cu, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, Zn.

Sediment control structures Monthly and following rainfall events of 20 mm or greater in a 24 hour period

Structural integrity, Suspended Solids.

Overflow event Suspended Solids, pH, EC.

Pit/Void Water Pit sumps Monthly Suspended Solids, EC, pH.

Tailings Storage Facilities

Decant Weekly EC, pH.

Lake Cowal Water Level

Lake Cowal gauge board Monthly (when lake water is present)

Lake water level.

Lake Cowal Chemical Monitoring

P1, P3, L1, C1 Weekly and following rainfall events of 20 mm or greater in a 24 hour period (when lake water is present and the lake water level is at or above 204.5 m AHD)


Lake Cowal transect sampling sites (refer to Figure 6): Lachlan Floodway transect – L1, L2, L5, L8, L9, L11 and L13 Irrigation Channel transect – I1, I3 and I4 East Shore transect – E1, E3 and E5 Bland Creek transect – B1, B2, B4 and B6 CGM transect – P1 to P3 Control sites transect – C1 to C3

Monthly (when lake water is present and the lake water level is at or above 204.5 m AHD)

EC, pH, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, temperature, lake water level.

Quarterly (when lake water is present and the lake water level is at or above 204.5 m AHD)

Suspended Solids, Alkalinity, cations and anions. Total Fe, Ca, Mg, K, sodium, chloride, sulphate, total phosphate, ortho phosphate, ammonium, nitrogen as nitrate and nitrite. Total As, Cd, Cu, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se and Zn. Dissolved As, Cd, Cu, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se and Zn.


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Table 8 (continued) Surface Water Monitoring Programme

CGM Component Site Monitoring Frequency Parameter/Analyte

Lake Cowal Inflow Sites

Lake inflow sites: Lachlan Floodway, Irrigation Channel, Bland Creek and Sandy Creek inflow sites (refer to Figure 6)

Monthly (when lake water is present and the lake water level is at or above 204.5 m AHD)

EC, pH, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, temperature.

Quarterly (when lake water is present and the lake water level is at or above 204.5 m AHD)

Suspended Solids, Alkalinity, cations, anions. Total Fe, Ca, Mg, K, sodium, chloride, sulphate, total phosphate, ortho phosphate, ammonium, nitrogen as nitrate and nitrite. Total As, Cd, Cu, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se and Zn. Dissolved As, Cd, Cu, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se and Zn.

Other Waters Lachlan River - Jemalong Weir Stream Gauge

Continuous (data to be obtained from NOW every 6 months)

Flow.

Monitoring will be undertaken by suitably qualified and experienced staff or consultants to the satisfaction of NOW and OEH in accordance with Development Consent Condition 4.5(b). The surface water monitoring programme will be supplemented by meteorological monitoring which is described in Section 3. In accordance with Development Consent Condition 4.4(a), the CGM WMP details procedures for the management of water during operation of the CGM. In accordance with Development Consent Condition 4.4(a)(ii), the quality and quantity of surface water will continue to be monitored within and around the mine site, including the UCDS and ICDS (Table 8). In accordance with Development Consent Condition 4.6, regular consultation with the Riverina Local Land Services will be maintained to ensure the environmental management objectives of the CGM are consistent with the priority issues of concern and the strategic direction for natural resource management in the Lachlan catchment (with particular regard to the provisions of the latest versions of the Jemalong Land and Water Management Plan, Lake Cowal Land and Water Management Plan, Lachlan Catchment Action Plan and any future catchment/land and water management plans that may become relevant to the area). Review of this surface water monitoring programme (including a review of the frequency of monitoring and programme parameters) will be conducted annually by the Environmental Manager (Section 14). Data management and reporting requirements are discussed in Sections 9 and 14, respectively. A description of the CGM surface water monitoring components and sites is provided in Sections 4.3.1 to 4.3.5 below.


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4.3.1 Up-catchment Diversion System As described in the EIS (North Limited, 1998a), the UCDS is a permanent feature designed to direct up-catchment drainage around the site. The UCDS allows upper catchment surface runoff to flow around the western, northern and southern edges of the site and into the existing drainage lines (Figure 5). Monitoring of water quality within the UCDS will be undertaken at monitoring points UCD North and UCD South immediately upstream of Lake Cowal and to the north and south of the northern and southern waste rock emplacements, respectively (Figure 5). The monitoring frequency and parameters are provided in Table 8.

4.3.2 Internal Catchment Drainage System As described in the EIS (North Limited, 1998a), the ICDS is a permanent water management feature designed to operate during the life of the mine and post-closure. The system involves a low mound running alongside the UCDS, surrounding the tailings storage facilities and extending to the process plant area. The ICDS is designed to act as a permanent catchment divide separating water external to the CGM and contained waters generated within the area of disturbance (North Limited, 1998a). During mine operations, surface waters that collect within the ICDS are managed by a series of contained water storages, bunds and drains. The ICDS contained water storages which collect runoff comprise storages D1, D2, D3, D4, D5 and D8B (Figure 5). The ICDS contained water storages which store process water include D6, D9 and D10 (Figure 5). Monitoring of water quality will be undertaken within all contained water storages. The monitoring frequency and parameters are provided in Table 8. In accordance with Development Consent Condition 4.3, there will be no disposal of water from the ICDS to Lake Cowal. Sediment control structures for the tailings storages will be included as monitoring sites during the operations phase. The monitoring frequency and parameters are provided in Table 8. In accordance with Development Consent Condition 3.5(a), an Erosion and Sediment Control Management Plan (ESCMP) has been prepared to detail the erosion and sediment control strategies for the life of the CGM.

4.3.3 Pit/Void Water Surface water and groundwater entering the pit area will be collected within a sump system. The water quality within pit sumps will be monitored for Suspended Solids, pH and EC on a monthly basis prior to being pumped to contained water storage D6 (Figure 5). Section 5 discusses groundwater monitoring from open pit dewatering and pit recharge during mine operations.

4.3.4 Lake Cowal Monitoring The water level in Lake Cowal will continue to be monitored at the fixed gauging board (Figure 6) on a monthly basis (when lake water is present).


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As described in Section 4.2, surface water monitoring will continue to be undertaken in Lake Cowal along the six transects used during the baseline monitoring programme (Section 4.1) at monitoring sites located close to the CGM, within central Lake Cowal and at sites distant from the CGM (i.e. close to the extents of Lake Cowal) as well as Lake Cowal inflow sites (Figure 6). Surface water quality parameters for Lake Cowal will include baseline parameters and aadditional parameters to provide for comprehensive chemical and physical characterisation of the lake and analysis of any potential impacts associated with operation of the CGM (Table 7). The quality and quantity of inflow to Lake Cowal contributes to the lake water quality. Monitoring will continue at the three baseline inflow monitoring sites (Figure 6) and additional inflow site at Sandy Creek (when water levels permit and when practicable). The locations of the inflow monitoring sites are listed in Table 9 and shown on Figure 6. The monitoring frequency and parameters are provided in Table 8.

Table 9 Lake Cowal Inflow Monitoring Sites

Water Course Co-ordinates*

Easting (m)

Northing (m)

Lachlan floodway 541008.2689 6290978.4112 Irrigation channel 543176.1726 6284624.9539 Bland Creek 541733.3159 6271970.4366 Sandy Creek 544940.0683 6270548.6423 After North Limited (1998a). * Grid co-ordinates are provided in Map Grid Australia.

In accordance with Development Consent Condition 4.5(b), chemical monitoring of Lake Cowal will be undertaken by suitably qualified and experienced staff or consultants to the satisfaction of NOW and OEH. 4.3.5 Other Waters in and around the Mine Site Site Sewage In accordance with Development Consent Condition 5.6, the site is served by a site sewage treatment facility which was constructed to the satisfaction of the Bland Shire Council (BSC) (BSC, pers. comm., 9 April 2003) and the former DECCW. The facility is sized and designed to achieve zero discharge to the local environment. Contained water storage D9 will supply water to the site sewage treatment facility. Treated effluent will be pumped to the tailings storage facilities (Figure 5). Lachlan River Surface water flow is continuously recorded by NOW at automatic stream gauges on the Lachlan River, with the closest gauge to the CGM located at Jemalong Weir. The location of this gauge is shown on Figure 3. Operation of the automatic stream gauge on Manna Creek was discontinued in 1999. Operation of the automatic stream gauge on Bland Creek (at Marsden) was discontinued in 2004.


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Data from the Lachlan River gauge will be obtained on a six monthly basis from NOW during the operations phase to: • Determine the frequencies of various rainfall events and subsequently review the performance of

site water management structures (e.g. sediment dams, diversion channels). Flow event frequencies will be assessed by analysing data collected from the stream gauges in conjunction with CGM monitoring results, with a particular focus on lake water level, rainfall and evaporation.

• Establish the lake catchment characteristics to provide a holistic appraisal of the lake and the processes which alter its hydrology and water quality. Lake catchment characteristics will be assessed by analysing water level, water quality and meteorological data collected within the Lake catchment and identifying trends. In this way the current understanding of the hydrological processes and water quality of the lake will be improved.

• Gauge the effects of surface water flows in the Lachlan River, on lake water levels within Lake Cowal. Comparison of water level flows in the Lachlan River with water levels within the lake will enable the identification of trends indicating the impact of water flows in the Lachlan River on Lake Cowal.

Table 10 details the NOW stream gauge number and co-ordinates.

Table 10 NOW Lachlan River Stream Gauge Details

Watercourse Name NOW Station Number

Co-ordinates* Easting

(m) Northing

(m) Lachlan River Jemalong Weir 412036 572051 6303964

Source: Department of Water and Energy (DWE) (2009) * Grid co-ordinates are provided in Map Grid Australia (MGA)


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5 GROUNDWATER MONITORING Existing Groundwater Regime The Water Sharing Plans relevant to the CGM include the Water Sharing Plan for the Lachlan Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2012 and the Water Sharing Plan for the NSW Murray Darling Basin Fractured Rock Groundwater Sources 2011. A conceptual groundwater model of the existing groundwater regime was developed by Coffey Geotechnics (2013) based on review of available hydrogeological data to support the two groundwater systems identified in the relevant Water Sharing Plans, which are as follows: • alluvial groundwater system; and • fractured rock groundwater system. Alluvial Groundwater System Alluvial groundwater resources within the region are generally associated with two geological formations (Coffey Geotechnics, 2013): • the Cowra Formation, which comprises aquifers of isolated sand and gravel lenses in

predominantly silt and clay alluvial deposits, with perched groundwater of generally higher salinity; and

• the Lachlan Formation (Bland Creek Palaeochannel), which comprises an aquifer of quartz gravel with groundwater of generally low salinity.

The CGM open pit intersects the Cowra Formation, but does not intersect the Lachlan Formation. The saline groundwater supply bores within the ML 1535 extract water from the Cowra Formation. The Bland Creek Palaeochannel Borefield extracts water from the Lachlan Formation, while the eastern saline borefield extracts water from the Cowra Formation. Fractured Rock Groundwater System The fractured rock groundwater system underlies the alluvial groundwater system, and consists of the following geological formations (Barrick, 2013): • the Ordovician aged Lake Cowal Volcanics Complex, which comprise massive and stratified

non-welded pyroclastic debris, overlying a partly brecciated lava sequence, overlying volcanic conglomerate interbedded with siltstone and mudstone; and

• overlying Siluro-Devonian Group and Ooth Formation, which comprise shallow to deep marine sedimentary units.

The existing CGM open pit intersects the Lake Cowal Volcanics Complex. Management of the quality and quantity groundwater within and around the CGM is provided in the WMP.


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5.1 EIS BASELINE GROUNDWATER MONITORING A series of regional groundwater monitoring bores were constructed within the Lake Cowal and Nerang Cowal area (Figure A-2 of Appendix A), the local CGM area (Figure A-3 of Appendix A) and Bland Creek Palaeochannel (BCPC) borefield area (Figure A-4 of Appendix A) during baseline monitoring. Test results of groundwater within the general vicinity of the BCPC are presented in Table 11.

Table 11 Bland Creek Palaeochannel Baseline Groundwater Analysis

Parameter Results 1994

pH 6.9 6.8

Conductivity (µS/cm) 1,350 1,500

Total Dissolved Solids (mg/L) 900 970 Hardness (mg/L) 225 225 Sodium (mg/L) 255 295 Potassium (mg/L) 2.8 2.9 Calcium (mg/L) 44 44 Magnesium (mg/L) 28 28 Chlorine (mg/L) 390 460 Carbonate (mg/L) <1 <1 Bicarbonate (mg/L) 210 220 Sulphate (mg/L) 59 63 Iron (mg/L) 0.08 0.09 Manganese (mg/L) 0.08 0.08 Silicate (mg/L) 15 14

Source: Coffey Partners International (1995a) Groundwater monitoring was also conducted from a network of seven piezometers (BLPR1 to BLPR7) in the BCPC borefield (Figure A-4 of Appendix A). Local Groundwater Monitoring (ML Area) A series of groundwater monitoring boreholes were constructed within the ML area with water quality measurements undertaken for a range of parameters between January and March 1994. Long-term monitoring of water levels was also carried out in observation piezometers in the ML area (at the proposed locations for the open pit and tailings storages) (Figure A-3 of Appendix A). Studies by Coffey Partners International (1995a) indicated that groundwater within the ML area is as with fractured volcanic bedrock and transported cover. These aquifers are generally low yielding and saline with conductivities ranging from 16,400 to 47,900 microSiemens per centimetre (µS/cm) (Table 12).


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Table 12 Baseline Groundwater Monitoring Results (1995) – ML Area

Analysis Units P556 P557 P560 P561 P561 duplicate

pH 6.85 7.03 6.92 6.99 7.04 Conductivity µS/cm 47800 47900 16400 40900 41300 Calcium mg/L 529 352 268 424 421 Magnesium mg/L 1300 1080 918 1040 1030 Sodium mg/L 8230 8400 8010 7410 7450 Potassium mg/L 88 86 48 34 30 Bicarbonate mg/L 595 460 339 530 536 Sulphate mg/L 3070 3620 3380 3740 3730 Chloride mg/L 14900 13800 12700 12100 12300 Iron mg/L <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 Silver mg/L <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 Cadmium mg/L 0.001 <0.001 <0.001 <0.001 <0.001 Copper mg/L 0.022 0.023 0.01 0.037 0.039 Manganese mg/L 0.049 0.030 0.232 0.056 0.058 Lead mg/L 0.004 <0.001 <0.001 <0.001 <0.001 Zinc mg/L 0.030 0.065 0.03 0.057 0.058

Source: Coffey (1997a) Depth to groundwater over the ML area varies with 9 m (approximately) below ground level being the shallowest water table level encountered (North Limited, 1998a).

5.2 GROUNDWATER MONITORING LOCATIONS AND PARAMETERS Construction of Monitoring Locations Bore construction details (e.g. aquifer interception depths) are provided in Appendix B. Monitoring Locations Groundwater monitoring will continue to be undertaken at monitoring sites used during the baseline monitoring programme described in Section 5.1 (where those sites are still operational) in accordance with Development Consent Condition 4.4(a)(ii). The local and regional groundwater monitoring locations for the CGM are listed in Table 13 and shown on Figures 5 and 7, respectively.

Table 13 Regional and ML Area Groundwater Monitoring Sites

Groundwater Monitoring Site# Description

Regional Groundwater Monitoring Sites

BLPR1, BLPR2, BLPR3, BLPR4, BLPR5, BLPR6 and BLPR7

Groundwater level and quality monitoring bores for the BCPC.

PZ09, PZ10 and PZ11 Groundwater level and quality monitoring bores for the Eastern Saline Borefield.

36551, 36552, 36523, 36528 and 90093

* NOW groundwater level monitoring bore (i.e. piezometers) in the Corinella aquifer area of the BCPC.

36594, 36524, 36609 & 36553 * NOW piezometers in the Nerang Cowal aquifer area of the BCPC.

36595, 36596, 36611, 36700, 36613, 36597 & 36610

* NOW piezometers in the Marsden aquifer area of the BCPC.


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Table 13 (Continued) Regional and ML Area Groundwater Monitoring Sites

Groundwater Monitoring Site# Description

29094, 57974, 29574 and 31343 Private registered bores located within the Marsden aquifer of the BCPC.

30636, 702306 and 703460 Private registered bores located in the Corinella aquifer area of the BCPC.

702230 Private registered bore located in the saline Cowra aquifer of the BCPC.

ML Area Groundwater Monitoring Sites

WB12 Groundwater level and quality monitoring bore for the saline groundwater borefield within ML 1535.

Open pit dewatering bores Bore water level.

PDB1A & PDB1B, PDB3A & PDB3B, and PDB5A & PDB5B

Open pit dewatering groundwater level and quality monitoring bore.

PP01 to PP06 Processing plant area groundwater level and quality monitoring bore.

P418A & P418B, MON01A & MON01B, TSFNA, TSFNB & TSFNC

Northern tailings storage facility groundwater level and quality monitoring bores.

P412A, P412A-R, P414A & P414B, P417A & P417B, MONO2A & MONO2B

Southern tailings storage facility groundwater level and quality monitoring bores.

P558A-R and P555A-R Groundwater level and quality monitoring bores up-gradient of the northern and southern tailings storage facilities.

# Monitoring sites are shown on Figures 5 and 7 and co-ordinates are presented in Section 5.3 (Table 17) and Appendix B. * NOW supplementary monitoring sites.

Co-ordinate locations of CGM operated monitoring bores within ML 1535, in the BCPC borefield and Eastern Saline Borefield are presented in Table 14. Monitoring results from NOW monitoring bores (Table 13) will also be utilised during the CGM operations phase.

Table 14 Monitoring Bore Locations

Project

Component Monitoring Bore Description Location*

Easting (m) Northing (m) BCPC** BPLR1 Groundwater level and quality

monitoring bores for the BCPC.

553971 6285351 (Figure 7) BPLR2 553157 6285515 BPLR3 553530 6289490 BPLR4 553230 6287490 BPLR5 552505 6282690 BPLR6 553705 6284140 BPLR7 555405 6283590 Eastern Saline Borefield (Figure 7)

PZ09 Eastern Saline Borefield groundwater level and quality monitoring bores.

556590 6288434 PZ10 556587 6288434 PZ11 556584 6288433

ML Area (Figure 5)

Open pit dewatering bores.

Bore water level. Various locations on the periphery and within the open pit***

PDB1A & PDB1B, PDB3A & PDB3B, and PDB5A & PDB5B.

Open pit dewatering groundwater level and quality monitoring bore.

Details provided in Appendix B



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Table 14 (Continued) Monitoring Bore Locations

Project

Component Monitoring Bore Description Location*

Easting (m) Northing (m) ML Area (continued) (Figure 5)

PP01 Processing plant area groundwater level and quality monitoring bore.

55536981 6277623 PP02 55537009 6277528 PP03 55536987 6277451 PP04 55536895 6277292 PP05 55536711 6277420 PP06 55536777 6277586 P418A & P418B, MON01A & MON01B, TSFNA, TSFNB & TSFNC.

Northern tailings storage facility groundwater level and quality monitoring bores.



P412A, P412A-R, P414A & P414B, P417A & P417B, MON02A & MON02B.

Southern tailings storage facility groundwater level and quality monitoring bores.

Details provided in Appendix B (except

for P412A) P412A - 55535171

Details provided in Appendix B (except for

P412A) P412A - 6277495

P558A-R and P555A-R

Groundwater level and quality monitoring up-gradient of the tailings storage facilities.



WB12

Groundwater level and quality monitoring bores for the Saline groundwater borefield within ML 1535.

539256 6277288

* Grid co-ordinates are provided in Map Grid Australia. ** The continuation of regional groundwater monitoring will involve the use of existing bores. *** The location (and potentially number) of bores within the open pit dewatering borefield (i.e. bores located on the periphery and within the

open pit) may change as the open pit is extended.

Monitoring Parameters Groundwater monitoring parameters for the operations phase will include parameters which reflect potential CGM impacts (e.g. metals identified as being enriched in waste rock and ore/tailings, analytes associated with processing plant operations and groundwater level drawdown). The list of groundwater monitoring parameters is presented in Table 15.

Table 15 Groundwater Monitoring Parameters and Analytical Methods


Acidity – Alkalinity scale pH - Field test – APHA 4500-H+ B Electrical conductivity (salinity) EC µS/cm Field test – APHA 2510 B Depth to water table Depth m Field test Total Dissolved Solids TDS mg/L Laboratory analysis – APHA 2540 C Alkalinity - mg/L Laboratory analysis – APHA 2320 B Total Hardness CaO3 mg/L Laboratory analysis – APHA 2340 B

Anions (Cl, SO4, Alkalinity) - mg/L Laboratory analysis – APHA 4500-Cl- B Laboratory analysis – APHA 4500 S04-E Laboratory analysis – APHA 2320 B

Dissolved Calcium Ca mg/L Laboratory analysis – USEPA 6010 ICP/AES Dissolved Potassium K mg/L Laboratory analysis – USEPA 6010 ICP/AES Dissolved Sodium Na mg/L Laboratory analysis – USEPA 6010 ICP/AES


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Table 15 (Continued) Groundwater Monitoring Parameters and Analytical Methods


Chloride Cl- mg/L Laboratory analysis – APHA 4500-Cl- B Sulphate SO4

2- mg/L Laboratory analysis – APHA 4500 SO4-E Dissolved Arsenic As µq/L Laboratory analysis – USEPA 6020 ICP/MS Dissolved Cadmium Cd µq/L Laboratory analysis – USEPA 6020 ICP/MS Dissolved Copper Cu µq/L Laboratory analysis – USEPA 6020 ICP/MS Dissolved Iron Fe mg/L Laboratory analysis – USEPA 6020 ICP/MS Dissolved Magnesium Mg mg/L Laboratory analysis – USEPA 6010 ICP/AES Dissolved Manganese Mn mg/L Laboratory analysis – USEPA 6020 ICP/MS Dissolved Molybdenum Mo µg/L Laboratory analysis – USEPA 6020 ICP/MS Dissolved Nickel Ni µg/L Laboratory analysis – USEPA 6020 ICP/MS Dissolved Lead Pb µq/L Laboratory analysis – USEPA 6020 ICP/MS Dissolved Antimony Sb µq/L Laboratory analysis – USEPA 6020 ICP/MS Dissolved Selenium Se µq/L Laboratory analysis – USEPA 6020 ICP/MS Dissolved Zinc Zn µq/L Laboratory analysis – USEPA 6020 ICP/MS WAD Cyanide - mg/L Laboratory analysis - APHA 4500-CN- I&N Total Cyanide - mg/L Laboratory analysis - APHA 4500-CN- C&N Pipeline Water Pressure - kpa Pressure Gauge After: Coffey (1995a) and ALS Laboratory Group (pers. comm., March 2009).

5.3 GROUNDWATER MONITORING PROGRAMME In accordance with Development Consent Condition 4.5(b), a groundwater monitoring programme for the operations phase has been developed and is presented in Table 16. The programme includes monitoring sites used during the baseline programme and additional monitoring sites specifically related to the assessment of potential groundwater impacts. The NOW and OEH were consulted regarding the construction and location of the groundwater monitoring positions, in accordance with Development Consent Condition 4.5(a)(ii). The groundwater monitoring programme is summarised below. In accordance with Development Consent Condition 4.4(a)(ii), the quality and quantity of groundwater will continue to be monitored within and around the mine site, at dewatering bores and all borefields associated with the CGM. Groundwater monitoring sites within and around the ML area will include sites associated with: • open pit dewatering bores;

• BCPC borefield and associated water supply pipeline;

• saline groundwater supply borefields and associated water supply pipelines; and

• other waters (i.e. tailings seepage). Monitoring will be undertaken by suitably qualified and experienced staff or consultants to the satisfaction of NOW and OEH in accordance with Development Consent Condition 4.5(b). Groundwater monitoring commenced upon licences being obtained under Part 5 of the Water Act, 1912 (NSW). Details of the CGM groundwater licences are provided in the CGM’s WMP.


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Table 16 Groundwater Monitoring Programme

Project Component Site Monitoring Frequency Parameters

ML Area Open pit area (PDB1A & PDB1B, PBD3A & PDB3B, and PDB5A & PDB5B).

Monthly Standing Water Level (SWL), EC, pH.

Quarterly Total hardness, Alkalinity, total dissolved solids (TDS). Chloride, sulphate, Ca, Mg, K and Na. Dissolved metals – As, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se and Zn.

Processing plant area (PP01 to PP06).

Monthly SWL, EC, pH.

Quarterly Total hardness, Alkalinity, TDS. WAD and total cyanide. Chloride, sulphate, Ca, Mg, K and Na. Dissolved metals – As, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se and Zn.

Northern Tailings Storage Facility Area (P418A & P418B, MON01A & MON01B, TSFNA, TSFNB & TSFNC).

Monthly SWL, EC, pH. Quarterly Total hardness, Alkalinity, TDS.

WAD and total cyanide. Chloride, sulphate, Ca, Mg, K and Na. Dissolved metals – As, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se and Zn.

Southern Tailings Storage Facility Area (P412A, P412A-R, P414A & P414B, P417A & P417B, MON02A & MON02B)



Up-gradient of the northern and southern tailings storage facilities (P558A-R and P555A-R).



Northern, Southern and Perimeter Waste Rock Emplacement (External toe drain).

Monthly EC, pH. Quarterly Total hardness, Alkalinity, TDS.

Chloride, sulphate, Ca, Mg, K and Na. Dissolved metals – As, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se and Zn.

BCPC BLPR1, BLPR2, BLPR3, BLPR4 BLPR5, BLPR6 and BLPR7.


Chloride, sulphate, Ca, Mg, K and Na. Dissolved metals: Fe and Mn.

Private registered bores 29094, 57974, 702230, 29574, 31341, 702306, 703460 and 30636.

As provided by private

groundwater users

Bore water level.

NOW piezometers 36551, 36552, 36553, 36523, 36524, 36528, 36594, 36595, 36596, 36597, 36609, 36610, 36611, 36613, 36700, and 90093.

Monthly

Bore water level.


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Table 16 (Continued) Groundwater Monitoring Programme

Project Component Site Monitoring Frequency Parameters

Water Supply Pipeline from BCPC Borefield

Above ground sections of the pipeline.

Monthly Visual inspection.

Saline Groundwater Supply Borefields

WB12 (saline borefield within ML 1535) PZ09, PZ10 & PZ11 (Eastern Saline Borefield)

Monthly. SWL, EC, pH. Quarterly. Total hardness, Alkalinity, TDS.

Chloride, sulphate, Ca, Mg, K, Na Dissolved metals: Fe and Mn.

Water Supply Pipelines from Saline Groundwater Supply Borefields

Above ground sections of the pipeline.

Monthly. Visual Inspection (where available).

Review of the groundwater monitoring programme (including a review of the frequency of monitoring and programme parameters) will be conducted annually during the mine operations phase (Section 14). A description of each groundwater monitoring programme component is provided in Sections 5.3.1 to 5.3.4 below.

5.3.1 Open Pit Dewatering The location (and number) of bores within the open pit dewatering borefield (i.e. bores located on the periphery and within the open pit) will change as the open pit is widened. Any new dewatering bores required as a result of the widening of the open pit will be licensed under existing licences and entitlements. Licensing details for the pit dewatering bores are provided in the WMP. Bores which intercept the alluvial aquifers will be used for monitoring groundwater depth (i.e. groundwater table or piezometric level). The monitoring frequency and parameters are provided in Table 16. The water extracted during pit dewatering is expected to be highly saline and will be stored in temporary storage areas located within the open pit area, prior to being pumped to contained water storage D6. The quantity of water pumped to contained water storage D6 will be metered. As described in Section 4.3, surface water quality monitoring during the operations phase will be undertaken in contained water storage D6.

5.3.2 Bland Creek Palaeochannel and Associated Water Supply Pipeline The BCPC consists of an alluvial sequence subdivided into an upper and lower zone (Coffey, 1995b). The lower zone sediments are located within the deep sections of the BCPC. Aquifers in this zone are generally high yielding with low salinities. The BCPC borefield targets these lower zone aquifers. The BCPC borefield includes both production bores and monitoring bores. Bore 1 to Bore 4 are the BCPC production bores (Figure 7).


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Groundwater monitoring in the vicinity of the BCPC borefield will be undertaken at the locations shown on Figure 7 which include: • bores BLPR1 to BLPR7 (including production bore monitoring bores BLPR2, BLPR4, BLPR5 and

BLPR7) and borefield monitoring bores (BLPR1, BLPR3 and BLPR6);

• regional NOW bores within the BCPC aquifer; and

• registered private bores. The monitoring frequency and parameters are provided in Table 16. The co-ordinate locations of regional NOW and registered private groundwater bores in the BCPC (and in the Eastern Saline Borefield area) are listed in Table 17.

Table 17

Regional NOW and Registered Private Bores

Bore No. Bore Type Co-ordinates*

Easting Northing 29094 Irrigation 547045 6267597 57974 Irrigation 547165 6268040

702230 Irrigation 555812 6287547 29574 Stock 553340 6273195 31341 Stock 551475 6267537

702306 Stock 550115 6297268 703460 Stock 551480 6297801 30636 Unknown 548006 6299524 36523 NOW 550690 6298690 36524 NOW 545915 6286770 36528 NOW 541074 6300132 36551 NOW 544785 6299760 36552 NOW 547961 6299018 36594 NOW 548385 6286380 36553 NOW 552525 6285750 36609 NOW 555505 6285290 36595 NOW 547905 6263855 36596 NOW 550930 6264805 36597 NOW 546030 6263770 36610 NOW 549145 6264550 36611 NOW 553695 6264815 36613 NOW 541565 6263690 36700 NOW 555605 6264760 90093 NOW 549832 6294377

Source: DWE (pers. comm., 8 July 2009) and Coffey Geotechnics (2013). * Grid co-ordinates are provided in Map Grid Australia.

Monitoring of the BCPC borefield and pipeline commenced following the construction and commissioning of the borefield. All BCPC production bores from the BCPC borefield used for mine water supply will be metered and the quantity of water extracted from each bore will be recorded on a monthly basis.


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In accordance with Development Consent Condition 4.2(a)(iii), the water supply pipeline has been installed with an alarmed automatic shut down device so water pumping is immediately stopped in the event of any pipe rupture. Flow pressure equipment will set to shut-down pumping in the event a significant pressure loss is detected. Visible inspection of the above ground sections of the pipeline are being undertaken by suitably qualified and experienced staff or consultants on a monthly basis.

5.3.3 Saline Groundwater Supply Borefields and Associated Water Supply Pipeline The saline groundwater supply borefield within ML 1535 and the Eastern Saline Borefield were constructed to diversify the water supply sources for the CGM. Exploratory investigations into saline groundwater resources in the Cowra Formation in the vicinity of the CGM BCPC borefield commenced in late 2009. The groundwater investigations identified the presence of a significant aquifer (the Cowra aquifer) from which saline groundwater could be drawn. Two test bores were installed for the purposes of groundwater investigation to determine the characteristics of the source. The results of further testing confirmed the feasibility of the Eastern Saline Borefield as a water supply source. Following approval from the FSC (i.e. Development Consent [DA 2011/64]), the Eastern Saline Borefield was constructed. The water source of the saline groundwater supply borefield within ML 1535 comprises the upper sands and gravels in a probable localised palaeochannel to the south-east of the CGM open pit within the saline aquifer system of the Cowra Formation (Groundwater Consulting Services Pty Ltd, 2010). The Eastern Saline Borefield is associated with the Cowra formation which comprises aquifers of isolated sand and gravel lenses in predominantly silt and clay alluvial deposits, with perched groundwater of generally high salinity (Barrick, 2010). Groundwater monitoring in the vicinity of the saline borefield within ML 1535 will be undertaken at monitoring bore WB12 as shown on Figure 5. Production bores associated with the saline borefield within ML 1535 include WB01 and WB39 (Figure 5). Groundwater monitoring in the vicinity of the Eastern Saline Borefield will be undertaken at monitoring bores PZ09, PZ10 and PZ11 as shown on Figure 7. Production bores associated with the Eastern Saline Borefield include SB1 and SB2 (Figure 7). The monitoring frequency and parameters are provided in Table 16. Operation of the saline borefield within ML 1535 and the Eastern Saline Borefield includes the following control and preventative measures: • shut-down and removal of pumps during periods when the borefield is inundated by Lake Cowal;

• prominent signage at the well-heads to minimise the potential for accidental collision or damage;

• a pipeline laid on the ground surface (i.e. above ground level) in a V-drain for potential spill containment and a generator to power the pumps; and

• leak detection mechanisms including automatic shut-down capability (i.e. a pressure-based shut-down system).


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5.3.4 Other Waters in and around the Mine Site Tailings Seepage In accordance with Development Consent Condition 5.2(b), the floor of the tailings storage facilities has been constructed and compacted to a permeability acceptable to the Division of Resources and Energy within the NSW Department of Trade and Investment, Regional Infrastructure and Services (DTIRIS-DRE) and EPA, in consultation with NOW. The tailings storage facilities were assessed in the EIS (North Limited, 1998a) for their potential seepage impacts on groundwater (quality, flows and levels). In summary, it was found that any limited seepage from the tailings storages is likely to have a negligible impact on existing groundwater levels or quality and would migrate slowly towards the final void (i.e. in an easterly direction from the facilities). Within some 30 to 40 years following closure of the CGM, the tailings storages would be essentially de-saturated and measurable seepage through the floor would cease. During the mine operations phase, groundwater monitoring up-gradient (i.e. west of the tailings storage facilities in the unconsolidated sediments, bores P558A-R and P555A-R) and down-gradient of the tailings storages (i.e. between the tailings storages and open pit – within the unconsolidated sediments) will be undertaken at sites shown on Figure 5. The monitoring frequency and parameters are provided in Table 16. Investigative triggers, data management and review procedures and results reporting are discussed in Sections 8, 9 and 14, respectively.


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6 WATER SAMPLING EQUIPMENT, HANDLING, TRANSPORT AND QUALITY PROCEDURES

6.1 SAMPLE COLLECTION, HANDLING AND TRANSPORTATION Sample, collection, handling and dispatch will be undertaken by suitably qualified and experienced staff or consultants to the satisfaction of the NOW and OEH in accordance with Development Consent Condition 4.5(b). The credentials of the suitably qualified and experienced personnel were provided to the NOW and OEH for endorsement prior to sampling being undertaken. The type of sampling equipment and sample containers and the requirement for use of preservative will be in accordance with the relevant parts (Parts 4, 6, 10 and 11) of AS/NZS 5667: 1998. A National Association of Testing Authorities, Australia (NATA) accredited laboratory will be used to provide suitable sample containers and the relevant preservatives for individual parameters being assessed.

6.1.1 Lake Water Lake water samples will be collected from monitoring sites using equipment and containers in accordance with Section 4 of AS/NZS 5667.4: 1998 Water Quality – Sampling – Part 4: Guidance on sampling from lakes, natural and man-made. Sample bottles will be labelled and those requiring chilling stored in an Esky, with ice blocks, prior to dispatch to the laboratory. A laboratory Chain of Custody (CoC) will be completed. The CoC will be placed in the Esky along the water samples. A copy of the CoC will be retained on-site. Samples will be sent to a NATA accredited laboratory for the parameters to be tested within the laboratory’s required holding time.

6.1.2 Lake Inflow Sites Lake inflow site water samples will be collected from monitoring sites using equipment and containers in accordance with Section 4 of AS/NZS 5667.6: 1998 Water Quality – Sampling – Part 6: Guidance on sampling of rivers and streams. The sample labelling, storage and dispatch procedures will be the same as for lake water samples.

6.1.3 Groundwater Groundwater samples will be collected from monitoring sites using equipment and containers in accordance with Section 4 of AS/NZS 5667.11: 1998 Water Quality – Sampling – Part 11: Guidance on sampling of groundwaters. Sample bottles will be labelled and those requiring chilling stored in an Esky, with ice blocks, prior to dispatch to the laboratory. A laboratory CoC will be completed. The CoC will be placed in the Esky along the water samples with a copy retained on-site. Samples will be sent to a NATA accredited laboratory for the parameters to be tested within the laboratory’s required holding time.


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6.1.4 Contained Water Storages Water samples from contained water storages will be collected from monitoring sites using equipment and containers in accordance with Section 4 of AS/NZS 5667.10: 1998 Water Quality – Sampling – Part 10: Guidance on sampling of waste waters. Sample bottles will be labelled and those requiring chilling stored in an Esky, with ice blocks, prior to dispatch to the laboratory. A laboratory CoC will be completed. The CoC will be placed in the Esky along the water samples with a copy of the CoC retained on-site. Samples will be sent to a NATA accredited laboratory for the parameters to be tested within the laboratory’s required holding time.

6.2 QUALITY CONTROL The analytical matrices for surface water and groundwater will incorporate a level of quality assurance comparable with that established during the baseline monitoring programmes. In accordance with guidance detailed in Section 5 of AS/NZS 5667.1: 1998, Water Quality – Sampling – Part 1: Guidance on the design of sampling programmes, sampling techniques and the preservation and handling of samples and to ensure that data generated during the on-going monitoring programmes are reliable, every batch of 20 samples will include the following quality control samples analysed by the laboratory: • one laboratory method blank; • two laboratory duplicate samples; • one laboratory control sample; and • one matrix spiked sample. In addition to the above laboratory quality control samples, a field blank will be taken on-site and provided to the laboratory for analysis. All sampling, sample handling and dispatch will be undertaken as described in Section 6.1. Records of certified testing laboratory certificates CoCs are to be held on site for the life of the CGM.


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7 BIOLOGICAL MONITORING As stated in Section 1.1, in March 2008, the Development Consent was modified to remove the requirement to continue baseline biological monitoring and enabled the biological monitoring programme to adopt an approach that is consistent with the ANZECC/ARMCANZ Water Quality Guidelines. As such, the biological monitoring programme has been revised to: a) focus monitoring so it is relevant to the potential impact pathways from the CGM to Lake Cowal

biology;

b) adopt an approach to the assessment of potential impacts on Lake Cowal resulting from the CGM that is consistent with the ANZECC/ARMCANZ Water Quality Guidelines; and

c) provide a more useful and effective biological monitoring programme. Relevant Potential Impact Pathways Monitoring parameters which are relevant to potential impact pathways would provide direct information on the contribution of the CGM to the status of the Lake Cowal biological environment. The relevant potential impact pathways, as determined by the Long Term Compatibility Assessment Studies (Appendix N of the EIS) (Resource Strategies, 1997), include: surface water flows from the CGM to Lake Cowal; dust from active mine areas on to the Lake; and habitat removal/modification. Other potential impacts were considered in the Long Term Compatibility Assessment Studies (Appendix N of the EIS) (Resource Strategies, 1997), however are not relevant to potential effects on Lake Cowal biology because of the CGM design elements. These included:

• Potential connection between Lake Cowal and the final void via spillage, seepage and bund and final void instability. These were discounted considering the design principles of CGM isolation from Lake Cowal and inherent conservatism of the design to allow for infrequent events (e.g. earthquake).

• Potential connection between Lake Cowal and groundwater within the underlying aquifers. This was discounted considering the depth of the relatively impermeable clay that separates the Lake Cowal bed from the underlying aquifer system (the clay underlying Lake Cowal has a minimum thickness of 6 m, with an average of around 9 m [with average vertical permeability values several orders of magnitude less than that recommended for landfill liners]).

• Potential influence to Lake Cowal water quality from waste rock emplacement and tailings storage facility seepage (including heavy metals and residual cyanide). This was discounted considering the preferential groundwater flows to the open pit/final void and the low permeability base drainage control zone which directs waste emplacement (and tailing storage facility) seepage to the open pit/final void.

Surface Water Flows The CGM’s water management system is designed to isolate the CGM from Lake Cowal by containing potentially contaminated water (contained water) generated within the mining area within the ICDS, constructing barriers between the lake and the CGM and diverting all other water around the perimeter of the site. The ICDS combines with the lake isolation system (which comprises the temporary isolation bund and permanent lake protection bund) to isolate Lake Cowal from mine development activities.


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The lake protection bund comprises a large engineered embankment that provides a permanent barrier between Lake Cowal and the open pit. Runoff from areas upslope of the ICDS is diverted via the UCDS around the mine area to Lake Cowal. The only potential influence on Lake Cowal water quality from CGM runoff could be via overflow from contained water storages D1 and/or D4 (which collect water from the outer batters of the northern and southern waste emplacements, respectively). Dust Dust from active mine areas could potentially affect the water quality and bed sediments of Lake Cowal. Emissions associated with operation of the CGM are primarily derived from the mechanical disturbance of soils and waste rock when using conventional mining equipment. Habitat Removal/Modification The construction of the New Lake Foreshore has removed/modified potential habitat for fish fauna and aquatic invertebrates. The constructed New Lake Foreshore comprises: • temporary isolation bund;

• lake protection bund and the lower batter of the perimeter waste emplacement; and

• an intervening section of lakebed between the temporary isolation bund and the lake protection bund.

Relevant Parameters to be Monitored Parameters relevant to the abovementioned potential impact pathways which will continue to be monitored include:

• Lake Cowal surface water quality (relevant to potential surface water quality impacts) (as part of the surface water monitoring programme [Section 4.3]). In addition, other contributing sources from the Lake Cowal catchment (i.e. the Lachlan floodway, irrigation channel, Bland Creek and Sandy Creek inflow sites [Section 4.3]) will be monitored.

• Surface water quality within contained water storages D1 and D4 (relevant to potential surface water quality impacts) (as part of the surface water monitoring programme [Section 4.3]).

• Dust deposition levels in the CGM and Lake Cowal surrounds (monitored in accordance with the Air Quality Management Plan [AQMP]).

• The success of the wetland rehabilitation (i.e. New Lake Foreshore) and enhancement measures (i.e. Compensatory Wetland and remaining areas of wetland in ML 1535) in improving wetland habitats for fish fauna and aquatic invertebrates (as part of the CGM’s Compensatory Wetland Management Plan [CWMP]).

• In addition to the above, analysis of sediment taken from lake monitoring sites will be undertaken to assess the bio-availability of metals within the bed of Lake Cowal. The water quality monitoring programme and sediment monitoring programme will combine to provide data relevant to the bio-availability of metals. The sediment monitoring will be relevant to potential surface water quality and dust deposition impacts, and will be undertaken when the lake water level is at or above 204.5 m AHD, where practicable.


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7.1 BIOLOGICAL MONITORING PROGRAMME In accordance with Development Consent Condition 4.5(b), a biological monitoring programme has been developed and is presented below. The biological monitoring programme has been developed in consultation with and to the satisfaction of DPI (Fisheries). The following sections describe monitoring of the mine’s potential impacts on fish and aquatic invertebrates. The monitoring results will be utilised to assess the mine’s impact on fish and aquatic invertebrates (Section 8). In the event that impacts are identified as occurring, appropriate ameliorative/contingency measures will be implemented, as outlined in Section 8.4. A summary of these monitoring results will be included in the Annual Review (Section 14). The monitoring programme to assess the mine’s potential impacts on birdlife in bird breeding areas, threatened flora and threatened fauna are described in the CGM Flora and Fauna Management Plan (FFMP). In accordance with Development Consent Condition 4.2(a)(ii), the CGM’s water supply pipeline (from the BCPC borefield and Eastern Saline Borefield) was laid in such a way so as to not impede the passage of fish or other animals, or interfere with flood behaviour or the passage of boats and vehicles.

7.1.1 Fish and Aquatic Invertebrates Sections 7.1.1.1 to 7.1.1.4 describe the monitoring of the mine’s potential impacts on fish fauna and aquatic invertebrates. The mine’s potential impacts specifically include: change in lake water quality; the removal/modification of habitat; the movement of dust away from active areas to lake environs; and monitoring of sediment taken from lake monitoring points.

7.1.1.1 Change in Lake Water Quality Water quality of Lake Cowal will be monitored for a number of parameters along the Lake Cowal transects and at the lake inflow sites. Table 8 outlines the monitoring locations, frequency of monitoring and water quality parameters that will be monitored in accordance with the surface water monitoring programme. The default high conservation/ecological value protection level triggers (including the 99% protection level for toxicants) provided in ANZECC and ARMCANZ (2000) will be used to trigger surface water investigations, as described in Section 8.

7.1.1.2 Removal/Modification of Habitat The impact of removal/modification of habitat on fish fauna and aquatic invertebrates will be monitored in accordance with the surface water monitoring programme (described above) and CWMP, as described below. The New Lake Foreshore will be constructed and rehabilitated in accordance with the CWMP (and Rehabilitation Management Plan [RMP]). Revegetation concepts for the New Lake Foreshore have been designed to improve habitats for wildlife including fish fauna and aquatic invertebrates (Section 6.4.2 of the CWMP). Further to the rehabilitation of the New Lake Foreshore, the CWMP also includes wetland enhancement initiatives to improve existing habitats for fish fauna and aquatic invertebrates, namely the Compensatory Wetland and enhancement of wetland areas in the remaining areas of ML 1535 (refer Section 6.2 of the CWMP for detail).


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A monitoring programme will be implemented to assess the success of the wetland rehabilitation (i.e. New Lake Foreshore) and enhancement measures (i.e. Compensatory Wetland and enhancement of remaining areas of wetland in ML 1535) in improving wetland habitats for fish fauna and aquatic invertebrates. Fish fauna surveys will be conducted within the New Lake Foreshore and Compensatory Wetland, no more than annually, when the lake is full (i.e. at full storage level) to assess fish fauna usage and aquatic habitat condition of these areas. Monitoring will also be conducted to assess natural regeneration and the progress of revegetation in the wetland areas.

7.1.1.3 Movement of Dust Away from Active Areas to Lake Environs Dust deposition levels within the CGM area and Lake Cowal surrounds will be monitored in accordance with the AQMP. Air quality monitoring sites are located within the CGM (and at the eastern boundary of ML 1535 within Lake Cowal) and surrounding the extents of Lake Cowal. The air quality monitoring programme is described in detail in Section 6 of the AQMP.

7.1.1.4 Lake Sediments Sampling Design and Locations Analyses of sediment taken from lake monitoring points will be undertaken to assess the bio-availability of metals within the bed of Lake Cowal. The water quality monitoring programme and sediment monitoring programme will combine to provide data relevant to the bio-availability of metals. Sample Frequency The sediment monitoring will be undertaken when the lake water level is at or above 204.5 m AHD, or as determined by the Environmental Manager (or delegate). Given the ephemeral nature of Lake Cowal, sediment monitoring will not be possible at all times. For example, sediment monitoring will not be possible when the water level within the lake does not permit access or sediment cores to be taken safely. Sediment Cores Sediment cores will be taken at relevant lake monitoring sites (Figure 6) using an open barrel stainless steel gravity corer to depths up to 1 m. The top 5 centimetres (cm) from five core samples at each site will be removed (using a stainless steel knife) and placed in a clean laboratory-issued container for sample preparation and analysis. Sample Parameters and Analysis Results of CGM geochemical investigations undertaken to date have identified As, Cd, Pb, Sb and Zn as being enriched in waste rock samples from the CGM (EGi, 1995; 1997; 2004; 2013). Sediment monitoring will therefore include sampling and analysis of the concentrations of As, Cd, Pb, Sb and Zn within sediment cores. The bioavailability of metals (As, Cd, Pb, Sb and Zn) in the sediment samples will be measured using 1 M HCl extraction test followed by Inductively Coupled Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICPAES) analysis. ICPAES is used to quantify Cd, Pb, Sb and Zn and Inductively Coupled Mass Spectrometry (ICMS) is to be used for As (pers. comm., Charlie Pierce ALS, 17 November 2010).


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Organic matter will be determined by weight loss following drying the sample at 550 °C and measuring the weight loss. Detailed sediment sampling and analytical methodologies for sediment monitoring are provided in Appendix C. The concentration of metals in sediment taken from lake monitoring points will be assessed against the recommended sediment quality guidelines defined in ANZECC and ARMCANZ (2000) and compared with monitoring results collected during baseline and mine operations monitoring programmes, as described in Section 8. The surface water quality monitoring programme will complement the sediment monitoring. For example, it may be possible to correlate possible gradients of metal concentrations with significant change to surface water quality. Comparison of sediment monitoring results with water quality monitoring results will be undertaken when results indicate adverse trends in parameter/analyte levels or at the request of DPI (Fisheries).


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8 INVESTIGATIVE TRIGGERS The ANZECC and ARMCANZ (2000) guidelines state that the guidelines are intended to:

provide government, industry, consultants, and community groups with a sound set of tools that will enable the assessment and management of ambient water quality in a wide range of water resource types, and according to designated environmental values. They are the recommended limits to acceptable change in water quality that will continue to protect the associated environmental values. They are not mandatory and have no formal legal status (eg. they are not National Environmental Standards as provided for in Section 43 of the New Zealand Resource Management Act 1991). They also do not signify threshold levels of pollution since there is no certainty that significant impacts will occur above these recommended limits, as might be required for prosecution in a court of law. Instead, the guidelines provide certainty that there will be no significant impact on water resource values if the guidelines are achieved.

The ANZECC and ARMCANZ (2000) guidelines will be used to assist in the management of waters and sediments within Lake Cowal and surrounding surface waters. The application of these guidelines to the CGM is summarised below. Chapter 3 of the ANZECC and ARMCANZ (2000) guidelines specifies biological, water and sediment quality monitoring guidelines for protecting the range of aquatic ecosystems, from freshwater to marine. The ANZECC and ARMCANZ (2000) guidelines recognise three ecosystem conditions: 1. High conservation/ecological value systems. 2. Slightly to moderately disturbed systems. 3. Highly disturbed systems. The Long Term Compatibility Assessment Studies (Appendix N of the EIS) (Resource Strategies, 1997) classified Lake Cowal as being of high conservation value, and identified the Lake’s hydrological cycle, water quality and ecosystem (wetland habitat) as critical conservation values. This classification was supported by the former DLWC who advised (DLWC pers. comm., 31 July 2003) that the pre-construction classification (ecosystem condition) of “High conservation/ecological value” would apply to the Lake and surface waters reporting to it. This is described in ANZECC and ARMCANZ (2000) as follows:

High conservation/ecological value systems — effectively unmodified or other highly-valued ecosystems, typically (but not always) occurring in national parks, conservation reserves or in remote and/or inaccessible locations. While there are no aquatic ecosystems in Australia and New Zealand that are entirely without some human influence, the ecological integrity of high conservation/ecological value systems is regarded as intact.

The classification of Lake Cowal as being of high conservation/ecological value means that the default trigger values for physical and chemical stressors and toxicants corresponds to the most conservative trigger levels, and hence the highest level of protection. The former DLWC advised (DLWC, pers. comm., 31 July 2003) that appropriate water quality trigger values for toxicants within freshwater aquatic ecosystems of high conservation/ecological value are the 99% protection level triggers provided in Chapter 3 of ANZECC and ARMCANZ (2000).


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As described in Section 8.1, the default high conservation/ecological value protection level triggers (including the 99% protection level for toxicants) provided in Chapter 3 of ANZECC and ARMCANZ (2000) will be used to trigger surface water investigations, until such time as specific triggers (based on lake water quality monitoring results across a range of storage and seasonal conditions) are developed in accordance with the procedures presented in ANZECC and ARMCANZ (2000) and in consultation with the relevant authorities. The investigation would involve a comparison with baseline data and data collected since construction of the CGM.

8.1 SURFACE WATER MONITORING Surface water monitoring programme (Table 8) results will be entered into a monitoring database (Section 9) to assist reporting (including Annual Review and EPL reporting) and enable comparison with default investigative trigger values and trend analyses. Where monitoring results indicate values in excess of the ANZECC and ARMCANZ (2000) default 99% protection level triggers, a review and investigation procedure will be conducted to validate the data and to assess the need to implement additional management measures to those already in place (refer Section 5.2 of the WMP). As described in Section 8.4, the review procedure will involve validation of data, management of data, analysis and investigation, and where necessary development of ameliorative measures. Ameliorative measures will be developed in consultation with the relevant authorities based on the results of the review and investigative process. The investigation will involve the consideration of the monitoring results in conjunction with site activities being undertaken at the time, water quality results in nearby locations (including lake inflow sites), the prevailing and preceding meteorological conditions and changes to the land use/activities being undertaken in the contributing catchment. The investigation will also involve consideration of baseline data and monitoring results collected to date. The scope and timeframe of the investigation will be developed in consultation with the relevant authorities. The results of the investigations will be presented to relevant regulators and the IMP and CEMCC within the agreed timeframe. In accordance with Development Consent Condition 4.3, there will be no disposal of water from the ICDS to Lake Cowal. The CGM’s WMP details the management of site water during the operations phase. As described in Section 4.3, surface water drainage will be designed to report to one of the contained water storages located around the site (Figure 5) and water quality in the contained water storages will be monitored for a range of physio-chemical parameters (Table 7). Reporting of surface water monitoring programme results (and any investigations or implementation of amelioration measures) is described in Section 14.

8.2 GROUNDWATER MONITORING The nearest private registered stock bore to the BCPC (bore no. 29574) is some 10 km to the south of the southernmost BCPC borefield production bore (Figure 7) and outside of the BCPC by more than 1 km. The likely water level draw-down in registered stock bores outside the BCPC and 10 km or more away from the BCPC borefield production bores was predicted in the EIS to be small, but measurable due to hydraulic isolation between the Cowra and Lachlan Formations(North Limited, 1998b). Groundwater modelling of drawdown effects conducted as part of the CGM Extension Modification predicted a maximum modelled drawdown of approximately 13 m for the registered stock bore no. 29574 (Coffey Geotechnics, 2013). The nearest private registered irrigation bore to the Eastern Saline Borefield (No. 702230) (Figure 7) (also known as the Duff bore) is subject to an agreement between Barrick and the owner.


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Registered private groundwater users (Table 17) were contacted in writing and advised when BCPC borefield pumping was to commence. Development Consent Condition 4.1(b) states that the maximum daily extraction of water from the BCPC must not exceed 15 ML/day or 3,650 ML per annum. In order to monitor important background and predicted future water level draw-downs, groundwater monitoring bores/piezometers have been installed within the BCPC borefield and Eastern Saline Borefield (Figure 7). Groundwater monitoring will include: • monitoring of bores in aquifers potentially affected by the CGM (Figure 7) (including drawdown

levels); and

• feedback from private groundwater users (Table 17) regarding adverse changes in groundwater quantity.

A Groundwater Contingency Strategy has been developed which involves the monitoring of groundwater levels (at NOW groundwater trigger level bores) (Figure 7), and the implementation of response measures should groundwater levels reach trigger levels developed in consultation with the NOW and other groundwater users. The Groundwater Contingency Strategy, including relevant groundwater trigger levels and investigation and mitigation measures, is described in the WMP. In the event that disruption to the efficiency of the closest registered stock and irrigation bores occurs, as indicated by monitoring, ameliorative measures will be implemented as described in Section 6.2.2 of the WMP. Groundwater monitoring programme results will be entered into the CGM monitoring database (Section 9) to assist reporting (such as Annual Review and EPL reporting) (Section 14) and enable trends to be easily identified. Results from the groundwater monitoring programme (as well as the other monitoring bores in the vicinity of Bland Creek where required) will provide data for developing appropriate ameliorative measures. Ameliorative measures would be developed in accordance with the review procedure presented in Section 8.4, which involves validation and management of data followed by a process of analysis and investigation. In relation to groundwater monitoring and potential impacts on groundwater users in the vicinity of the BCPC and the Eastern Saline Borefield, the review procedure provides:

i. Groundwater Monitoring: Groundwater quantity and quality data will be compared to relevant baseline data, data collected since the commencement of operations and assessment data presented in the EIS and subsequent CGM environmental assessments. Where the data analysis indicates that an adverse impact is occurring to the efficiency of surrounding bores an investigation will be undertaken to determine the need and type of ameliorative measures. The scope and timeframe of the investigation will be developed in consultation with the relevant authorities. The results of the investigation will be presented to the relevant authorities and the CEMCC within the agreed timeframe.

Ameliorative measures which may include bore reconditioning, pump lowering/raising and/or refitting would be implemented in consultation with the NOW and relevant registered bore owners. The lowering of the pump would be designed to maintain the pressure head available to the pump following the lowering of the water table. This may require deepening of existing bores or the construction of new bores. As described in Section 8.4 additional monitoring programmes will also be implemented to measure the effectiveness of the ameliorative measures.


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Reporting of groundwater monitoring programme results (and any investigations or implementation of amelioration measures) is described in Section 14.

8.3 BIOLOGICAL MONITORING Section 8.3.1 describes how the mine’s impact on fish and aquatic invertebrates will be assessed. An analysis of the results of the biological monitoring programme will be undertaken by an appropriately qualified person and reported in the Annual Review (Section 14). Biological monitoring programme results (i.e. surface water, dust and sediment monitoring results) will be entered on to the CGM monitoring database (Section 9) to assist reporting (such as Annual Review reporting) (Section 14) and to enable trends to be easily identified and for comparison against relevant trigger values.

8.3.1 Fish and Aquatic Invertebrates

8.3.1.1 Change in Lake Water Quality Surface water quality monitoring results will be reviewed in accordance with the procedure set out in Section 8.4. In the event that the CGM is found to be impacting on water quality, ameliorative/contingency measures will be implemented, as described in Section 8.4.

8.3.1.2 Removal/Modification of Habitat A suitably qualified person will, on the basis of the results of the monitoring outlined in Section 7.1.1.2, and experience and literature research, come to an opinion as to whether the removal/modification of habitat is impacting on fish fauna and aquatic invertebrates. If, at any time during the monitoring programme, a suitably qualified person determines that impacts are likely occurring, contingency measures will be implemented. Possible ameliorative/contingency measures are outlined in Section 8.4.

8.3.1.3 Movement of Dust Away From Active Areas to Lake Environs As described in Section 7, a detailed air quality monitoring programme has been developed for the CGM. The air quality monitoring results will be reviewed in accordance with the Compliance Assessment Protocol described in Section 9 of the AQMP. The protocol includes assessment of the dust deposition monitoring programme results against Development Consent (and EPL) air quality impact assessment criteria (as detailed in the AQMP). In the event the air quality impact assessment criteria for dust deposition is exceeded at monitoring sites located in the immediate Lake Cowal surrounds, an assessment will be conducted to determine: • Location of the exceedance.

• Possible reasons for the exceedance (e.g. can the exceedance be attributed directly to the CGM). This will include consideration of (but not be limited to): – meteorological factors; – exclusion of the combustible fractions of the dust samples;


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– CGM mining activities at the approximate time of the exceedance; and – other potential factors (including agricultural activities that may have occurred at the

approximate time of the exceedance). If the assessment determines the air quality impact assessment criteria for dust deposition are exceeded as a result of CGM activities, ameliorative/contingency measures will be implemented to minimise dust emissions in accordance with the AQMP (Section 8.4).

8.3.1.4 Lake Sediments The concentration of metals in sediment taken from lake monitoring sites will be assessed against the recommended sediment quality guidelines defined in ANZECC and ARMCANZ (2000), presented in Table 18.

Table 18

Sediment Contaminant Trigger Values

Parameter Trigger Value (mg/kg dry weight)

Arsenic (As) 20 Cadmium (Cd) 1.5

Lead (Pb) 50 Antimony (Sb) 2

Zinc (Zn) 200 Source: ANZECC and ARMCANZ (2000)

If the trigger values in Table 18 are exceeded, a preliminary assessment will be conducted and will include consideration of baseline monitoring results and sediment monitoring results collected to date, site activities being undertaken at the time, surface water quality monitoring results from Lake Cowal transect sampling sites and lake inflow sites and contained water storages D1 and D4, monitoring results from dust deposition gauges surrounding the lake, the prevailing and preceding meteorological conditions and changes to the land use/activities being undertaken in the contributing catchment. If the preliminary assessment shows that impacts may be potentially associated with the CGM, further investigation will be conducted in accordance with the methodology described in Section 3.5.5 of ANZECC and ARMCANZ (2000) to assess the need and type of ameliorative/contingency measures. The scope and timeframe of the investigation will be developed in consultation with the relevant authorities (e.g. requirement for toxicity testing).

8.4 REVIEW PROCEDURE a. Data Validation All data will be validated to ensure that it has been obtained in accordance with the requirements of the surface water, groundwater and biological monitoring programmes including, but not limited to: i. samples being taken by suitably qualified and experienced staff or consultants to the satisfaction

of the NOW and OEH and in the case of biological monitoring, DPI (Fisheries) (Development Consent Condition 4.5(b));


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ii. samples handled and transported, correct sampling equipment and container used in accordance with Section 4 of the relevant Parts (Parts 4, 6, 10 and 11) of AS/NZS 5667: 1998; and

iii. samples have been analysed by a laboratory which has been NATA accredited to undertake testing for the parameters being determined.

Where a comparison is required with baseline monitoring data or the data set collected to date, data validation will also involve a review of the relevant data so as to detect any anomalous results. b. Data Management Validated data from each of the monitoring programmes will be entered into a digital database by the Environmental Manager (or delegate) as described in the Section 9. This will render the data in a form suitable for analysis. c. Data Analysis and Investigation Data from each of the monitoring programmes detailed in this SWGMBMP will be analysed by suitably qualified and experienced staff or consultants. Data analysis will include, but not be limited to: i. Surface Water Monitoring: Surface water quality data will be compared to investigation trigger

values described in Section 8.1. Where monitoring results indicate values in excess of the relevant trigger values, an investigation will be conducted to assess the need to implement management measures in addition to those described below (e.g. treatment of contaminated waters or alteration of upstream land management practices). The investigation will involve the consideration of the monitoring results in conjunction with site activities being undertaken at the time, water quality results in nearby locations (including lake inflow sites), the prevailing and preceding meteorological conditions and changes to the land use/activities being undertaken in the contributing catchment. The investigation will also involve consideration of baseline data results collected to date. The scope and timeframe of the investigation will be developed in consultation with the relevant authorities. The results of the investigation will be presented to the relevant authorities and the CEMCC within the agreed timeframe.

ii. Groundwater Monitoring: Groundwater volume, level and quality data will be compared to relevant baseline data, data collected since the commencement of operations and assessment data presented in the EIS and subsequent CGM environmental assessments. Where the data analysis indicates that an adverse impact is occurring to the efficiency of surrounding bores an investigation will be undertaken to determine the need and type of ameliorative measures. The scope and timeframe of the investigation will be developed in consultation with the relevant authorities. The results of the investigation will be presented to the relevant authorities and the CEMCC within the agreed timeframe.

iii. Biological Monitoring: Section 8.3 describes how the CGM’s potential impact on fish and aquatic invertebrates will be assessed. This includes assessment of impacts associated with change in lake water quality, removal/modification of habitat and movement of dust away from active areas to lake environs. In addition, Section 8.3 describes how the assessment of the concentration of metals in sediment taken from lake monitoring sites will be assessed against the recommended trigger values and compared with results collected to date.

If the sediment trigger values are exceeded, a preliminary assessment will be conducted. If the preliminary assessment shows that impacts may be potentially associated with the CGM, further investigation will be conducted in accordance with the methodology described in Section 3.5.5 of ANZECC and ARMCANZ (2000) to assess the need and type of ameliorative measures. The scope and timeframe of the investigation will be developed in consultation with the relevant authorities (e.g. requirement for toxicity testing). The results of the investigation will be presented to the relevant authorities and the CEMCC within the agreed timeframe.


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d. Ameliorative/Contingency Measures Ameliorative/contingency measures will be developed in consultation with the relevant authorities based on the results of the above investigations. Additional monitoring programmes will also be implemented to measure the effectiveness of the ameliorative/contingency measures. In addition to the above, all data obtained from the surface water, groundwater and biological monitoring programmes will be progressively reviewed and a trend analysis undertaken to aid in the detection of any gradual changes in water quality. The results of any such analysis will be reported in the Annual Review (Section 14). Investigations will subsequently be triggered where necessary and mitigation measures (measures to control/reduce/remove impacts) implemented where required. The type and detail of the investigation will be determined on a case by case basis in consultation with the CEMCC, IMP and relevant regulatory agencies. Possible contingency measures relevant to fish and aquatic invertebrates are described below. In the event the assessment of monitoring results indicates the removal/modification of habitat is impacting on fish fauna or aquatic invertebrates (Section 8.3), ameliorative/contingency measures will be implemented. Possible ameliorative/contingency measures primarily relate to the establishment and/or provision of additional habitat resources for fish and aquatic invertebrates, such as the: • provision of structural habitat (such as root balls, logs and tree limbs) onto the bed of the lake to

provide shelter, feeding and breeding sites for fish; and • planting of additional forage resources (such as aquatic macrophytes) in wetland areas. Based on the results of the air quality impact criteria assessment described in Section 8.3, contingency measures will be implemented to minimise dust emissions in areas located in the vicinity of Lake Cowal. Additional dust control, management and modification measures to be adopted will be selected with consideration of: • scheduled mine activities; • possible reasons for previous elevated dust levels; • additional modifications in the form of control methods or operational changes which could be

adopted; • control equipment that will be utilised; and • the location of current and future dust generating activities. Potential measures include: • increased watering of exposed surfaces via water trucks or other methods as required;

• additional revegetation plantings on rehabilitation areas to increase vegetative ground cover; and

• the temporary cessation of ancillary or non-essential on-site dust generating activities (e.g. soil stripping, re-profiling of CGM landforms and movement and placement of stockpiled soil resources on re-profiled final landforms).

Further detail is provided in the AQMP.


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9 DATA MANAGEMENT All data generated from the monitoring programmes detailed in this SWGMBMP will be maintained on-site by the Environmental Manager. Monitoring data will be available for inspection by regulatory agencies or their representatives. Environmental monitoring data is to be retained for the life of the CGM. A site environmental monitoring database will be established and maintained and will include: • baseline data from previous CGM-related studies;

• relevant catchment water quality data which has been accumulated by authorities such as the NOW; and

• data generated from monitoring programmes outlined in this SWGMBMP. The monitoring programme database will include the fields identified in Table 19.

Table 19

Data Management

Field Description Monitoring Site I.D. Surface or groundwater monitoring site I.D. (e.g. B1 or D6). Sample I.D. Sample number given to each sample by Environmental Manager. Date of sampling* Numeric date of sampling (e.g. dd/mm/yyyy). Date of testing As recorded on the laboratory certificate. Time of testing As recorded on the laboratory certificate. Testing laboratory NATA accredited laboratory for the parameters to be determined. Testing method Australian Standard test number or field test type. This is called lab method Detection limit As given on laboratory certificate. Parameter Chemical parameter tested for (e.g. SO4 or Fe). Result Recorded numerical result for above chemical parameter. Unit Units of above result (e.g. mg/L).

* Note: Contractors and staff will be informed of the numeric date of sampling standard (i.e. dd/mm/yyyy) to minimise potential data management error.


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10 POST-MINE OPERATIONS MONITORING PROGRAMMES Consistent with the requirements of Development Consent Condition 4.5(b), which requires monitoring programmes to be prepared and implemented for all stages of the development, this section outlines the proposed strategies for the surface water (Section 10.1), groundwater (Section 10.2) and biological (Section 10.3) monitoring programmes during the post-mine operations phase of the CGM. It is anticipated that detailed monitoring programmes would be developed closer to mine closure and incorporated into the CGM’s Mine Closure Plan which would be developed in consultation with relevant regulatory agencies, including the DRE and NOW.

10.1 SURFACE WATER MONITORING PROGRAMME It is anticipated that the surface water monitoring programme undertaken during mine operations (Section 4.3) will be progressively refined during the post-mine operations phase to focus on runoff areas from the CGM final landforms and monitoring of the final void and any remaining contained water storages. Following the cessation of mining operations and as mine components are decommissioned, it is expected that contained water storages would be progressively decommissioned, or alternatively, would be retained for local landholder use in consultation with Barrick, DRE, EPA and NOW. If the storages are retained, the storages would be included in the post-mine surface water monitoring programme. A strategy for the decommissioning of CGM water management structures has been prepared in accordance with Development Consent Condition 4.4(b) and is provided in the CGM’s WMP. During the initial stages of mine closure and rehabilitation of mine landforms (i.e. approximately five years following mine closure), it is expected that the surface water monitoring programme undertaken during the mine operations phase would remain largely unchanged to monitor potential impacts resulting from decommissioning and initial rehabilitation works. Changes to the monitoring programme during this time are expected to include decommissioning of some contained water storages and subsequent removal of these sites from the monitoring programme. Surface water monitoring will continue to be undertaken at monitoring sites used during the baseline and mine operations monitoring programmes (where those sites are still operational). Surface water quality parameters monitored during the post-mine operations phase are expected to remain largely the same as those monitored during the mine operations phase (Table 7) to maintain consistency with the mine operations data set (and baseline data set) and to allow for trend analysis to be undertaken in accordance with the data review procedure (Section 8.4). As CGM components are decommissioned, the monitoring programme may be refined to reflect the closed site in consultation with relevant regulatory authorities (including the NOW, EPA and DPI-Fisheries). Review of the surface water monitoring programme (including a review of the frequency of monitoring and programme parameters) will be conducted annually during the post-mine operations phase (Section 14) and the monitoring programme revised/updated to reflect the status of the site if necessary. The post-mine surface water monitoring programme is expected to be undertaken until relinquishment of ML 1535. On-site meteorological monitoring would continue to supplement the surface water monitoring programme. A description of the post-mine surface water monitoring programme components is provided below.


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UCDS and ICDS Monitoring of water quality within the UCDS will continue to be undertaken during the post-mine operations phase at monitoring points UCD north and UCD south to characterise up-catchment drainage quality. In accordance with the EIS (North Limited, 1998a), once the CGM is decommissioned, the water within the ICDS would be directed to the open pit and contained water storages within the ICDS will be progressively decommissioned. However, some storages may be retained for local landholder use upon agreement by Barrick and in consultation with the NOW. Monitoring of water quality will continue to be undertaken within any remaining contained water storages (while operational). It is anticipated that as CGM components are decommissioned some monitoring parameters would be removed from the surface water monitoring programme (e.g. once the processing plant is decommissioned, monitoring of hydrocarbons within contained water storages D2, D3, D8B, D9 and D10 would no longer be required). Surface water management for the mine closure phase will be detailed in a Mine Closure Plan which will be developed in consultation with relevant regulatory authorities. Pit/Void Water Following cessation of mining the open pit, pit dewatering would cease and the pit sump system would be decommissioned. Groundwater and surface water from the open pit catchment and incident rainfall would then gradually fill the pit/void. Groundwater water licensing entitlements will be maintained post-closure during the void filling period for groundwater inflows to the final void (and for replacing evaporative loss at equilibrium) in consultation with the NOW. Water within the final void is expected to be highly saline, and water quality and level monitoring or survey of the void waterbody will be undertaken (when safe to do so) until relinquishment of ML 1535 to confirm hydrogeological modelling. The final void will be fenced and access restricted to authorised personnel and warning signs installed along the fence to notify the public of the dangers present. It is anticipated that access to the void would be required from time to time by authorised personnel to conduct necessary monitoring or survey works (e.g. to assess stability of the void and to conduct void water quality and water level monitoring). A Strategy for the Decommissioning of Water Management Structures and Long-term Management of Final Void and Lake Protection Bund has been developed in accordance with the Development Consent Condition 4.4(b) and includes the following key rehabilitative objectives: • leave the void surrounds safe (for humans and stray stock); and

• create habitat opportunities for waterbirds at the approximate level at which void water will reach equilibrium, where feasible.

The Strategy for the Decommissioning of Water Management Structures and Long-term Management of Final Void and Lake Protection Bund is included in the CGM WMP.


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Lake Cowal Monitoring The water level in Lake Cowal will continue to be monitored at the lake gauge board (when inundated) and monitoring continued at sites along the six lake transects, and at the lake inflow sites, when the water level in Lake Cowal is at or above 204.5 m AHD. Sites monitored along the six transects may be reduced should monitoring results indicate similar or consistent results along the transect. Any refinement of the post-mine operations surface water monitoring programme locations would be undertaken in consultation with relevant regulatory authorities including the NOW. Consistent with the mine operations phase monitoring programme, chemical monitoring of Lake Cowal will be undertaken by suitably qualified and experienced staff or consultants. Other Water in and around the Mine Site It is anticipated that during the post-mine operations phase, the requirement for the site sewage treatment facility will be removed when the majority of the mine workforce is no longer required. At this time, water quality parameters relevant to monitoring the performance of the sewage system (i.e. faecal/bacterial indicators) will be removed from the surface water monitoring programme. Lachlan River Surface water flow data from the automatic stream gauge on the Lachlan River (at Jemalong Weir) will continue to be obtained from the NOW during the post-mine operations phase, until no longer necessary to inform the post-mine surface water monitoring programme.

10.2 GROUNDWATER MONITORING PROGRAMME It is expected that the groundwater monitoring programme will be progressively refined (in consultation with relevant regulatory authorities) during the post-mine operations phase to focus on groundwater monitoring in aquifers beneath the CGM area (including aquifers that intercept the final void and groundwater beneath the tailings storage facilities). Mine water supply bores (associated with the Bland Creek Palaeochannel borefield, the ML Area and Eastern Saline borefields) will no longer be required once mine operations and pumping cease, and as a result would be decommissioned and dismantled in accordance with the Minimum Construction Requirements for Water Bores in Australia (Third Edition) (NUDLC, 2012) in consultation with the NOW. Alternatively, upon agreement with Barrick and the NOW, water supply bores may be retained for local landholder use following relinquishment of ML 1535. Given the water supply from the saline groundwater borefields is highly saline, it is unlikely that these bores would be suitable and/or requested for ongoing future use by regional landholders post-closure of the CGM. It is likely that the saline groundwater supply bores and associated pipelines would be dismantled and the bores plugged, capped and decommissioned (in accordance with the NUDLC [2012] Minimum Construction Requirements for Water Bores in Australia) following the cessation of mining operations at the CGM. Consultation during the mine closure phase would include discussions between Barrick, local and regional landholders and relevant regulatory agencies regarding potential transfer of the groundwater supply borefield infrastructure associated with the CGM for private use. A strategy for the decommissioning of CGM mine water supply bores and associated pipelines has been prepared in accordance with Development Consent Condition 4.4(b) and is provided in the CGM’s WMP.


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Review of the groundwater monitoring programme (including a review of the frequency of monitoring and programme parameters) will be conducted annually during the post-mine operations phase and the monitoring programme revised/updated to reflect the status of the site (if necessary). Groundwater monitoring licences obtained for the CGM would be retained until no longer required or transferred to an agreed new owner. Applications for surrender or transfer of the bore licences will be lodged with the NOW in accordance with the provisions of Section 71M or Section 77 of the Water Management Act, 2000 respectively. As described above, groundwater water licensing entitlements would be maintained post-closure during the void filling period, for groundwater inflows to the final void (and for replacing evaporative loss at equilibrium) in consultation with the NOW. Groundwater quality parameters monitored are expected to remain largely the same as those monitored during the mine operations phase to maintain consistency with the mine operations data set (and baseline data set) and to allow for trend analyses to be undertaken in accordance with the data review procedure (Section 8.4). With time, groundwater quality parameters may be refined to reflect the status of the closed CGM site. For example, once tailings deposition ceases and the tailings storage facilities gradually de-saturate and seepage through the floor ceases, the groundwater monitoring programme may be modified to remove parameters which previously reflected potential groundwater impacts associated with the operational tailings storage facilities. Open Pit Dewatering Following the cessation of mining of the open pit, all pit dewatering bores will be dismantled, plugged, capped and decommissioned (in accordance with the NUDLC [2012] guideline) and the pit allowed to recharge from groundwater, surface water from the open pit catchment and incident rainfall. Bores in the immediate surrounds of the final void (including PD and PP series bores) (Figure 5) will continue to be used for monitoring groundwater depth (i.e. groundwater table or piezometric level) and groundwater quality as the pit recharges. It is expected that monitoring of bores surrounding the final void will be undertaken for a period determined in consultation with NOW to confirm groundwater modelling predictions, prior to the bores being decommissioned or transferred to regional or local landholders for future ongoing use. Bland Creek Palaeochannel and Associated Water Supply Pipeline Post-operations, the CGM will cease to extract water from the BCPC production bores. It is expected that monitoring of the BCPC borefield will be undertaken for a period determined in consultation with NOW to confirm groundwater modelling predictions associated with the cessation of extraction, prior to the bores being decommissioned (in accordance with the NUDLC [2012] guideline) or transferred to regional or local landholders for future ongoing use. If no alternative use for the BCPC pipeline can be agreed following the landholder consultation, the pipeline would be raised, dismantled and removed for recycling. The section of pipeline in the bed of Lake Cowal would be raised when the lake is dry, subject to strict environmental management procedures in accordance with relevant NOW policy and guideline requirements. The strategy for decommissioning the pipeline has been prepared and is included in the CGM’s WMP. It is expected that monitoring of regional NOW and registered private groundwater bores in the BCPC would continue to be undertaken following the cessation of extraction from the BCPC to confirm groundwater modelling predictions for a period determined in consultation with the NOW.


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Saline Groundwater Supply Borefields and Associated Water Supply Pipeline Similar to the BCPC bores, post-operations, the CGM will cease to extract water from the saline borefield within ML 1535 and the Eastern Saline borefield. It is expected that monitoring of the saline bores will be undertaken for a period determined in consultation with NOW to confirm groundwater modelling predictions associated with the cessation of extraction, prior to the bores being decommissioned or transferred to regional or local landholders for future ongoing use. However given the water supply from the saline groundwater borefields is highly saline, it is unlikely that these bores would be suitable and/or requested for ongoing future use by regional landholders post-closure of the CGM. Therefore, it is likely that the saline groundwater supply bores and associated pipelines would be decommissioned, dismantled and the bores plugged and capped (in accordance with the NUDLC [2012] guideline) following the cessation of mining operations at the CGM, in consultation with the NOW. Other Waters in and around the Mine Site Groundwater monitoring will continue to be undertaken at sites up-gradient and down-gradient of the tailings storage facilities for a period determined in consultation with the NOW to confirm groundwater modelling predictions associated with de-saturation of the tailings storage facilities and likely cessation of seepage through the floor. Barrick will then propose to decommission and surrender the relevant licences, or transfer the bores and licences to regional or local landholders for future ongoing use, in consultation with the NOW.

10.3 BIOLOGICAL MONITORING PROGRAMME The biological monitoring programme will be continued during the post-mine operations phase and refined to reflect the potential impact pathways relevant to the closed rehabilitation site. A description of the relevant potential impact pathways and the anticipated monitoring programme is provided below. Relevant Potential Impact Pathways Relevant potential impact pathways during the post-mine operations phase are anticipated to be similar to those relevant during mine operations and are considered to include: surface water flows from the CGM to Lake Cowal; dust generated from decommissioning and rehabilitation of mine areas on to Lake environs; and habitat disturbance should the BCPC pipeline be raised and removed. Surface Water Flows Following cessation of mining operations and rehabilitation of the CGM final landforms, it is anticipated that runoff reporting to contained water storages D1 and D4 would reduce as revegetation develops. As described in Section 10.1, contained water storages would be progressively decommissioned in consultation with and to the satisfaction of relevant regulatory agencies (including the DTIRIS-DRE, EPA and NOW), or may be retained for local landholder use upon agreement by Barrick and in consultation with the NOW. Dust Dust emissions associated with decommissioning and rehabilitation of the CGM would primarily be derived from the mechanical disturbance of soils during rehabilitation activities (e.g. re-profiling CGM landforms and movement and placement of stockpiled soil resources on re-profiled final landforms) when using conventional equipment.


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Habitat Removal/Modification As described in Section 10.2, the BCPC pipeline (laid on the bed of Lake Cowal) may be raised and removed following the cessation of mining at the CGM given water extraction would no longer be required. Works to remove the pipeline may disturb potential habitat for fish fauna and aquatic invertebrates. Alternatively, the pipeline may be retained for local and regional landholder use upon agreement by Barrick and in consultation with the NOW and other relevant regulatory agencies. Biological Monitoring Programme Similar to the mine operations biological monitoring programme, monitoring will be continued to monitor the mine’s potential impacts on fish and aquatic invertebrates. Change in Lake Water Quality As described in Section 10.1, water quality of Lake Cowal will continue to be monitored at sites along the six lake transects, and at the lake inflow sites, when the water level in Lake Cowal is at or above 204.5 m AHD. Sites monitored may be reduced should monitoring results indicate similar or consistent results along the transect, and the frequency of monitoring refined as rehabilitation of the New Lake Foreshore develops/matures. Any refinement of the surface water monitoring programme would be undertaken in consultation with relevant regulatory authorities including the NOW. Removal/Modification of Habitat During the post-mine operations phase, the impact of habitat disturbance on fish fauna and aquatic invertebrates will be monitored should the temporary isolation bund be breached (consistent with the CWMP) and in the event that the BCPC pipeline or the saline borefield pipeline within ML 1535 within Lake Cowal are raised and dismantled. Rehabilitation of the New Lake Foreshore will be undertaken in accordance with the CWMP, with the rehabilitation of disturbance areas associated with removal of the pipelines within the lake undertaken in consultation with the NOW and in accordance relevant NOW guidelines. A monitoring programme will be implemented annually to assess the success of the wetland rehabilitation (i.e. New Lake Foreshore and any areas disturbed from raising and removing the buried pipelines within Lake Cowal) and wetland enhancement measures implemented to improve wetland habitats for fish fauna and aquatic invertebrates (i.e. Compensatory Wetland and remaining areas of wetland in ML 1535). It is expected that once natural regeneration and revegetation in the wetland areas develops, the monitoring frequency for these areas would be reduced. Movement of Dust Away from the CGM to Lake Environs During the post-mine operations phase, dust deposition levels surrounding the CGM will continue to be monitored in the vicinity of the CGM. As described above, dust emissions associated with decommissioning of the CGM would primarily be derived from the mechanical disturbance of soils during rehabilitation activities (e.g. re-profiling CGM landforms and the movement and placement of stockpiled soil resources on re-profiled final landforms). It is anticipated that dust deposition levels would decrease once re-profiling of landforms and soil placement is complete and as revegetation of CGM final landforms and disturbance areas establishes. Therefore, it is expected that the frequency of dust deposition monitoring would reduce with time and the dust monitoring programme refined to reflect the closed site in consultation with relevant regulatory authorities.


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Lake Sediments Sediment monitoring during the post-mine operations phase will continue to analyse these parameters to maintain consistency with the mine operations data set (and baseline data set) and to allow for trend analysis to be undertaken in accordance with the data review procedure (Section 8.4). It is anticipated that the CGM’s dust monitoring programme (including dust monitoring parameters) and sediment monitoring programme may be refined to reflect the closed site in consultation with relevant regulatory authorities. Review and Investigation Procedures It is expected that the data management (Section 9), review and investigation (Section 8.4) procedures undertaken during the mine operations phase will continue to be undertaken for the post-mine operations phase.


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11 COMPLAINTS REGISTER A complaints register will be maintained by the Community Relations Manager in accordance with EPL Condition M5.1. Information recorded in the complaints register with respect to each complaint will include: • date of complaint; • the method by which the complaint was made; • nature of complaint; and • response action taken to date (if no action was taken, the reasons why no action was taken). An initial response will be provided to the complainant within 24 hours. Preliminary investigations into the complaint will commence within 48 hours of complaint receipt. A summary of the complaints register will be displayed on the Barrick website in accordance with Development Consent Condition 9.4(a)(v) and will be updated on a monthly basis. Dispute Resolution In the event that dispute resolution is necessary, the resolution process will be one of informed discussion involving the complainant and Barrick. Barrick may also refer the dispute (with the complainant’s agreement) to the CGM’s CEMCC for mediation (Section 12). In the event that the complainant is still dissatisfied, the matter may be referred to the NSW Department of Planning and Environment (DP&E) for consideration of further measures. Every effort will be made to ensure that concerns are addressed in a manner that results in a mutually acceptable outcome.


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12 COMMUNITY CONSULTATION Community Environmental Monitoring and Consultative Committee (CEMCC) A CEMCC has been established for the CGM in accordance with Development Consent Condition 9.1(d). Development Consent Condition 9.1(d) is reproduced below:

9.1 Environmental Management

(d) Community Environmental Monitoring and Consultative Committee

(i) The Applicant shall establish and operate a Community Environmental Monitoring and Consultative Committee (CEMCC) for the development to the satisfaction of the Secretary. This CEMCC must:

• be comprised of an independent chair and at least 2 representatives of the Applicant, 1 representative of BSC, 1 representative of the Lake Cowal Environmental Trust (but not a Trust representative of the Applicant), 4 community representatives (including one member of the Lake Cowal Landholders Association);

• be operated in general accordance with the Guidelines for Establishing and Operating Community Consultative Committees for Mining Projects (Department of Planning, 2007, or its latest version).

• monitor compliance with conditions of this consent and other matters relevant to the operation of the mine during the term of the consent.

Note: The CEMCC is an advisory committee. The Department and other relevant agencies are responsible for ensuring that the Applicant complies with this consent.

(ii) The Applicant shall establish a trust fund to be managed by the Chair of the CEMCC to facilitate the functioning of the CEMCC, and pay $2000 per annum to the fund for the duration of gold processing operations. The annual payment shall be indexed according to the Consumer Price lndex (CPl) at the time of payment. The first payment shall be made by the date of the first Committee meeting. The Applicant shall also contribute to the Trust Fund reasonable funds for payment of the independent Chairperson, to the satisfaction of the Secretary

As required, the CEMCC is comprised of: • four community representatives (including one member of the Lake Cowal Landholders

Association);

• one representative of the Lake Cowal Foundation;

• one representative of the Wiradjuri Condobolin Corporation;

• one representative of the Bland Shire Council;

• an independent chairperson; and

• two representatives of Barrick. The CEMCC will continue to provide opportunities for members of the community to attend CEMCC meetings to discuss specific issues relevant to them, including monitoring related issues. This will be achieved by landholders making a request to the CEMCC regarding a particular issue, or by the landowner registering a complaint in the complaints register. Landowners who register complaints may be invited to join in discussion of the issue at the next CEMCC meeting.


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13 INDEPENDENT ENVIRONMENTAL AUDIT AND INDEPENDENT MONITORING PANEL

Independent Environmental Audit An Independent Environmental Audit (IEA) will be conducted in accordance with Development Consent Condition 9.2(a). Development Consent Condition 9.2(a) is reproduced below:

9.2 Independent Auditing and Review

(a) Independent Environmental Audit

(i) By the end of July 2016, and every 3 years thereafter, unless the Secretary directs otherwise, the Applicant shall commission and pay the full cost of an Independent Environmental Audit of the development. This audit must:

• Be conducted by a suitably qualified, experienced and independent team of experts whose appointment has been endorsed by the Secretary;

• Include consultation with relevant regulatory agencies, BSC and CEMCC;

• Assess the environmental performance of the development and assess whether it is complying with the requirements in this consent and any other relevant approvals (such as environment protection licences and/or mining lease (including any assessment, plan or program required under this consent);

• Review the adequacy of any approved strategy, plan or program required under this consent or the abovementioned approvals; and

• Recommend measures or actions to improve the environmental performance of the development, and/or strategy, plan or program required under this consent.

Note: This audit team must be led by a suitably qualified auditor, and include ecology and rehabilitation experts, and any other fields specified by the Secretary.

(ii) Within 3 months of commissioning this audit, or as otherwise agreed by the Secretary, the Applicant shall submit a copy of the audit report to the Secretary, together with its response to any recommendations contained in the audit report, and a timetable for the implementation of these recommendations as required. The applicant must implement these recommendations, to the satisfaction of the Secretary.

In accordance with the recommendations from the IMP’s Third Annual Report of the Independent Monitoring Panel for the Cowal Gold Project (October 2007), Barrick will continue to conduct IEAs annually, instead of triennially as defined in Condition 9.2(a)(i). Independent Monitoring Panel An IMP has been established in accordance with Development Consent Condition 9.2(b) to review the IEAs, Annual Reviews and all environmental monitoring procedures. The IMP will also review implementation of, and the results from, the surface water, groundwater and biological monitoring programmes described in this SWGMBMP.


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Development Consent Condition 9.2(b) provides:

9.2 Independent Auditing and Review

(b) Independent Monitoring Panel

(i) The Applicant shall at its own cost establish an Independent Monitoring Panel prior to commencement of construction. The Applicant shall contribute $30,000 per annum for the functioning of the Panel, unless otherwise agreed by the Secretary. The annual payment shall be indexed according to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) at the time of payment. The first payment shall be paid by the date of commencement of construction and annually thereafter. Selection of the Panel representatives shall be agreed by the Secretary in consultation with relevant government agencies and the CEMCC. The Panel shall at least comprise two duly qualified independent environmental scientists and a representative of the Secretary.

(ii) The panel shall:

• provide an overview of the annual reviews and independent audits required by conditions 9.1(b) and 9.2(a) above;

• regularly review all environmental monitoring procedures undertaken by the Applicant, and monitoring results; and

• provide an Annual State of the Environment Report for Lake Cowal with particular reference to the on-going interaction between the mine and the Lake and any requirements of the Secretary. The first report shall be prepared one year after commencement of construction. The report shall be prepared annually thereafter unless otherwise directed by the Secretary and made publicly available on the Applicant’s website for the development within two weeks of the report’s completion.


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14 REPORTING AND REVIEW OF THIS SWGMBMP In accordance with Development Consent Conditions 4.5(b) and 9.1(b) and requirements of the CGM EPL, regular reporting of monitoring results will be undertaken. Results and interpretation of surface water, groundwater and biological monitoring will be detailed in the CGM Annual Review which will be made available on Barrick’s website, in accordance with Development Consent Condition 9.4(a)(vii). EPL reporting requirements are outlined in Section 14.2.

14.1 ANNUAL REVIEW An Annual Review will be prepared in accordance with the requirements of Development Consent Condition 9.1(b) and will be submitted to the Secretary of the DP&E by the end of July each year, or as otherwise agreed with the Secretary. Development Consent Condition 9.1(b) is reproduced below:

9.1 Environmental Management

b) Annual Review

By the end of July each year, or as otherwise agreed with the Secretary, the Applicant shall review the environmental performance of the development to the satisfaction of the Secretary. This review must:

(i) describe the development that was carried out in the previous calendar year, and the development that is proposed to be carried out over the next year;

(ii) include a comprehensive review of the monitoring results and complaints records of the development over the previous calendar year, which includes a comparison of these results against the: • the relevant statutory requirements, limits or performance measures/criteria; • the monitoring results of previous years; and • the relevant predictions in the EIS;

(iii) identify any non-compliance over the last year, and describe what actions were (or are being) taken to ensure compliance;

(iv) identify any trends in the monitoring data over the life of the development,

(v) identify any discrepancies between the predicted and actual impacts of the development, and analyse the potential cause of any significant discrepancies; and

(vi) describe what measures will be implemented over the next year to improve the environmental performance of the development.

Condition 26 of the Conditions of Authority for ML 1535 also has requirements for Annual Review (formerly the AEMR) reporting which are generally consistent with the requirements of Development Consent Condition 9.1(b). The requirements of Condition 26 are detailed below.

Annual Environmental Management Report (AEMR) 26. (1) Within 12 months of the commencement of mining operations and thereafter annually or, at

such other times as may be allowed by the Director-General, the lease holder must lodge an Annual Environmental Management Report (AEMR) with the Director-General.

(2) The AEMR must be prepared in accordance with the Director-General's guidelines current at the time of reporting and contain a review and forecast of performance for the preceding and ensuing twelve months in terms of: (a) the accepted Mining Operations Plan; (b) development consent requirements and conditions;


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(c) Environment Protection Authority and Department of Land and Water Conservation licences and approvals;

(d) any other statutory environmental requirements; (e) details of any variations to environmental approvals applicable to the lease area; and (f) where relevant, progress towards final rehabilitation objectives.

(3) After considering an AEMR the Director-General may, by notice in writing, direct the lease holder to undertake operations, remedial actions or supplementary studies in the manner and within the period specified in the notice to ensure that operations on the lease area are conducted in accordance with sound mining and environmental practice.

(4) The lease holder shall, as and when directed by the Minister, cooperate with the Director-General to conduct and facilitate review of the AEMR involving other government agencies and the local council.

The Annual Review will report on the following issues related to this SWGMBMP: • meteorological, surface water, groundwater and biological monitoring results;

• details of any trends observed in the monitoring data;

• comparison with baseline data and the data set collected to date, or any relevant trigger levels;

• details of investigations and consultation with regulatory agencies;

• review of the performance of control measures and the SWGMBMP; and

• interpretation and discussion of the SWGMBMP results and management measures by a suitably qualified person.

14.2 EPL REPORTING REQUIREMENTS In accordance with the CGM’s EPL Conditions, an Annual Return will be prepared including monitoring results from the EPL surface water and groundwater monitoring locations, and a statement of compliance with the relevant EPL water monitoring requirements. In addition, in accordance with section 66(6) of the Protection of the Environment Operations Act, 1997 and written requirements issued by the EPA, Barrick will publish pollutant monitoring data collected in accordance with EPL condition requirements, on Barrick’s website (www.barrick.com).

14.3 REVIEW OF THIS SWGMBMP In accordance with Condition 9.1(c) of the Development Consent, this SWGMBMP will be reviewed, within three months of the submission of: • an Annual Review under Condition 9.1(b);

• an incident report under Condition 9.3(a);

• an audit under Condition 9.2(a);

• an Annual State of the Environment Report under Condition 9.2(b);

• the approval of any modification to the conditions of the Development Consent; or

• any direction of the Secretary under Condition 1.1(c).


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Where this review leads to revisions of this SWGMBMP, then within four weeks of the review, the revised SWGMBMP will be submitted for the approval of the Secretary of the DP&E (unless otherwise agreed with the Secretary). The revision status of this SWGMBMP is indicated on the title page of each copy. This SWGMBMP will be made publicly available on Barrick’s website (www.barrick.com), in accordance with Condition 9.4(a)(iii) of the Development Consent. A hard copy of the SWGMBMP will also be kept at the CGM.


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15 REFERENCES Austin, M.P. and Nix, H.A. (1978) Regional Classification of Climate and its Relation to Australian

Rangeland.

Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council and Agriculture and Resource Management Council of Australia and New Zealand (ANZECC and ARMCANZ) (2000) National Water Quality Management Strategy No. 4: Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality Vol 1 & 2.

Barrick (Cowal) Limited (2010) Statement of Environmental Effects – Eastern Saline Borefield

Barrick (Cowal) Limited (2013) Cowal Gold Mine Extension Modification Environmental Assessment.

Coffey Geotechnics (2013) Hydrogeological Assessment – Cowal Gold Mine – Extension Modification.Coffey Partners International Pty Ltd (1994) Endeavour 42 Deposit Mine Geotechnical Studies. Report for North Broken Hill – Pelco. Report No. G255/12-AG.

Coffey Partners International Pty Ltd (1995a) Lake Cowal Project Hydrogeological Modelling and Dewatering Study. G255/28-AF.

Coffey Partners International Pty Ltd (1995b) Outside Borefield Feasibility Study for Lake Cowal Project. G255/24-AJ.

Coffey Partners International Pty Ltd (1997a) Hydrogeological Assessment of Lake Cowal Project Water Management Review. G255/41-AO.

Coffey Partners International Pty Ltd (1997b) Lake Cowal Gold Project Revised Mine Dewatering Assessment. G255/44-AH.

Commonwealth Bureau of Meteorology (2014a) Climate Averages for Australian Sites – Averages for West Wyalong Airport AWS. Internet Site: http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_050017.shtml Date Retrieved: October 2014.

Commonwealth Bureau of Meteorology (2014b) Climate Averages for Australian Sites – Averages for Wyalong Post Office. Internet Site: http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_073054.shtml Date Retrieved: October 2014.

Department of Water and Energy (2009) Water quality data availability. Internet Site: http://waterinfo.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/wqis.pl?site_id=570001748 Date Retrieved: July 2009.

Environmental Geochemistry International Pty Ltd (EGi) (1995) Cowal Gold Project Environmental Geochemical Assessment of Process Tailings, Mine Rock and Surface Zone Materials. Report prepared for North Limited.

Environmental Geochemistry International Pty Ltd (EGi) (1997) Cowal Gold Project Environmental Geochemistry Assessment of Proposed Mining Activities for Cowal Gold Project. Report prepared for North Limited.


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Environmental Geochemistry International Pty Ltd (EGi) (2004) Geochemical Assessment of Waste Rock and Process Tailings. Report prepared for Barrick Australia Limited.

Environmental Geochemistry International Pty Ltd (EGi) (2013) Cowal Gold Mine Extension Modification – Environmental Geochemistry Assessment of Waste Rock and Tailings. Report prepared for Barrick (Cowal) Limited.

Environment Protection Authority (2007) Approved Methods for Sampling of Air Pollutants in New South Wales.

Groundwater Consulting Services (2010) Saline Groundwater Assessment – Cowra Aquifer, Cowal Gold Mine, West Wyalong, New South Wales. March.

Lachlan Catchment Management Authority (2009) Lachlan Catchment Action Plan.

National Uniform Drillers Licensing Committee (2012) Minimum Construction Requirements for Water Bores in Australia: Third Edition, February 2012.

North Limited (1998a) Cowal Gold Project Environmental Impact Statement. Report prepared by Resource Strategies Pty Ltd.

North Limited (1998b) Cowal Gold Project – Commission of Inquiry Primary Submission. Prepared by North Limited.

NSR Environmental Consultants Pty Ltd (1995) Lake Cowal Gold Project Environmental Impact Statement.

Pacific Environment Limited (2013) Cowal Gold Mine Extension Modification – Air Quality Impact Assessment. Report prepared for Barrick (Cowal) Limited.

Resource Strategies (1997) Long Term Compatibility Assessment Studies. Report prepared for North Limited.


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16 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS

AEMR Annual Environmental Management Report

AHD Australian Height Datum

ANZECC Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council

AQMP Air Quality Management Plan

ARMCANZ Agriculture and Resource Management Council of Australia and New Zealand

As Arsenic

AS/NZS Australian/New Zealand Standard

AWS Automatic Weather Station

Barrick Barrick (Cowal) Proprietary Limited

BCPC Bland Creek Palaeochannel

BoM Bureau of Meteorology

BSC Bland Shire Council

Ca Calcium

Cd Cadmium

CEMCC Community Environmental Monitoring and Consultative Committee

CGM Cowal Gold Mine

cm centimetre

CoC Chain of Custody

CSIRO Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation

Cu Copper

CWMP Compensatory Wetland Management Plan

DA 14/98 Development Consent for the CGM including the Bland Creek Palaeochannel Borefield water supply pipeline

DA 2011/64 Development Consent for the operation of the Eastern Saline Borefield

DECCW NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water (former)

DLWC NSW Department of Land and Water Conservation (former)

DoP NSW Department of Planning (former)


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DP&E NSW Department of Planning and Environment

DPI NSW Department of Primary Industries

DRE Division of Resources and Energy (within the Department of Industry and Investment, Regional Infrastructure and Services)

DTIRIS Department of Industry and Investment, Regional Infrastructure and Services

DWE Department of Water and Energy (former)

EC electrical conductivity

EIS Cowal Gold Project Environmental Impact Statement (North Limited, 1998)

EP&A Act NSW Environment Planning & Assessment Act, 1979

EPA NSW Environment Protection Authority

EPL Environment Protection Licence

ESCMP Erosion and Sediment Control Management Plan

Fe Iron

FFMP Flora and Fauna Management Plan

FSC Forbes Shire Council

Hg Mercury

hPa hectopascals

ICDS Internal Catchment Drainage System

ICMS Inductively Coupled Mass Spectrometry

ICPAES Inductively Coupled Atomic Emission Spectrometry

IEA Independent Environmental Audit

IMP Independent Monitoring Panel

K Potassium

km kilometre

km/h kilometres per hour

m metres

mm millimetres

Mg Magnesium


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mg/L milligrams per Litre

MGA Map Grid Australia

ML Mining Lease

Mo Molybdenum

NATA National Association of Testing Authorities, Australia

Ni Nickel

NOW NSW Office of Water

NSW New South Wales

NUDLC National Uniform Drillers Licensing Committee

OEH Office of Environment and Heritage

Pb Lead

PEL Pacific Environment Limited

RMP Rehabilitation Management Plan

ROM Run-of-mine

Sb Antimony

Se Selenium

SWGMBMP Surface Water, Groundwater, Meteorological and Biological Monitoring Programme

UCDS Up-catchment Diversion System

WMP Water Management Plan

W/m² watts per square metre

Zn Zinc

ºC degrees Celsius

% percent

µS/cm microSiemens per centimetre


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APPENDIX A

BASELINE WATER MONITORING LOCATIONS


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Table A-1 Baseline Surface Water Monitoring Transects and Sites

Transect Habitat Type Monitoring Site Co-ordinates*

Easting (m) Northing (m) Lachlan Floodway Mud bottom L1 538115 6279665

Canegrass L2 538465 6280710 Lignum L3 538675 6281415 Lignum L4 538865 6282210 Lignum L5 539005 6282730 Mud bottom L6 539315 6283730 Mud bottom L7 539555 6284660 Lignum L8 539845 6285490 Lignum L9 539935 6286690 Lignum L10 540485 6287120 Lignum L11 540765 6287990 Mud bottom L12 541105 6289310 Lignum L13 541345 6289920

Irrigation Channel Canegrass I1 540965 6281415 Lignum I2 541555 6282130 Lignum I3 542275 6283200 Mud bottom I4 542905 6283970

Bland Creek Canegrass B1 538845 6277450 Canegrass B2 539355 6277240 Mud bottom B3 540430 6276680 Mud bottom B4 541755 6276015 Mud bottom B5 542455 6274910 Canegrass B6 543375 6273420

East Shore Canegrass E1 540505 6278415 Canegrass E2 541815 6278790 Mud bottom E3 543180 6278440 Mud bottom E4 544705 6278200 Mud bottom E5 545580 6278050

Project Canegrass P1 539125 6278105 Canegrass P2 539155 6278010 Canegrass P3 539185 6277915

Control Canegrass C1 543830 6278415 Canegrass C2 543830 6278315 Canegrass C3 543830 6278215

NA

Bland Creek Inflow Site 545455 6270610

Source: NSR (1995) * Grid co-ordinates are provided in Map Grid Australia

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00679340.doc

APPENDIX B

BORE CONSTRUCTION DETAILS


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APPENDIX B-1


ML Area Bore Construction and Aquifer Interception Details

Source: 1 Coffey Partners International Pty Ltd (1995a) Lake Cowal Project Hydrological Modelling

and Dewatering Study. G255/28-AF. 2 Coffey Partners International Pty Ltd (1997a) Hydrological Assessment of Lake Cowal

Project Water Management Review. G255/41-AO.

3 Coffey Partners International Pty Ltd (1997b) Lake Cowal Gold Project Revised Mine Dewatering Assessment G255/44-AH.

4 Groundwater Consulting Services Pty Ltd Bore Logs.

5 Coffey Geotechnics (2009) Report No. GEOTLCOV21910AE-AB.

Cowal Gold ProjectML Area Bore Construction and Aquifer Interception Details

Project Area Bores Project Aquifer Depth (m)* Slots(m)*

MGA Easting**

MGA Northing** Salinity

P412B Uncon. 16 10 to 16 535173 6277494 no dataP414A Uncon. 76 22 to 34 535364 6276677 35,900P414B Uncon. 16 10 to 16 535364 6276677 no dataP417A Uncon. 88.5 24 to 36 535891 6276334 16,700P417B Uncon. 14 8 to 14 535891 6276334 no dataP418A Uncon. 9 20 to 32 534864 6279182 no dataP418B Uncon. 16 10 to 16 534864 6279182 44,400P555B Uncon. 10* 8 to 10 533114 6276747 no dataP561B Uncon. 10* 8 to 10 534601 6279317 no dataP561A Uncon. 23.2 21.1 to 23.2 534601 6279317 27,000

NOTES

***

VolcanicsAlluviumUncon.

Project Area Bores Project Aquifer Depth (m)* Slots(m)*

MGA Easting* MGA Northing* Salinity*

PDB1A saprock** 94.3 88.3 to 94.3 537281.204 6279032.629 47,300PDB1B transported** 29.8 23.8 to 29.8 537283.293 6279030.703 42,500PDB3A saprock** 100.5 94.5 to 100.5 538502.101 6277854.966 46,000PDB3B transported** 29.6 23.6 to 29.6 538507.224 6277854.553 47,200PDB5A saprock** 82.5 76.5 to 82.5 537769.884 6276932.605 44,500PDB5B saprolite** 29.8 23.8 to 29.8 537774.826 6276931.777 43,900PP03 saprolite** 51 11.5 to 51 536986.542 6277451.101 no dataPP04 transported** 20 11.5 to 20 536894.797 6277292.412 no data

MON01A saprock** 69 63 to 69 535111.668 6278223.539 39,400MON01B transported** 15 9 to 15 535114.519 6278225.050 40,100TSFNA saprock** 98 92 to 98 535437.983 6278073.852 42,200TSFNB transported** 30.1 24.1 to 30.1 535442.628 6278072.768 41,500TSFNC transported** 18 12 to 18 535447.472 6278071.711 no data

P412A-R saprolite** 61 55 to 61 535171.657 6277490.982 39,400MON02A saprock** 69 63 to 69 534274.986 6276083.825 34,700MON02B saprolite** 30 24 to 30 534277.127 6276085.942 34,700P558A-R saprolite** 42.6 30.6 to 42.6 532889.633 6277989.609 30,900P555A-R saprock** 36 27 to 36 533112.357 6276760.259 27,900

NOTES***

SaprockTransported

Saprolitealluvial deposits of variable thicknesssoft oxide material: extremely weathered rock – mudstone, sandstone or

Coffey Feb 1995 report* Report No. G255/24-AJField Readings taken November 2003

Coffey Feb 2009 report* Report No. GEOTLCOV21910AE-AB

hard oxide material: weathered rock - mudstone, sandstone or diorite

Bores located in the oxidised volcanic horizonBores located in the alluvial sequence

Groundwater Consulting Services Pty Ltd Bore Logs

Bores located in the unconsolidated sediments

See Figure 12 for ML area bore locations


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APPENDIX B-2


Regional (Palaeochannel) Bore Construction and Aquifer Interception Details

Source: 1 Coffey Partners International Pty Ltd (1995b) Outside Borefield Feasibility Study for Lake

Cowal Project. G255/24-AJ.

Cowal Gold ProjectRegional Bore Construction and Aquifer Interception Details

Palaeo Bores

Project Aquifer Depth (m)* Slots (m)* MGA Easting** MGA Northing** Salinity*

BLPR1 Palaeo 128*101.5 to

109.5 553791 6285524 no dataBLPR2 Palaeo 130* *** 553083 6285636 no dataBLPR3 Palaeo 96 72 to 84 553583 6289369 no dataBLPR4 Palaeo 118 94 to 110 553274 6287388 2,020BLPR5 Palaeo 128 107 to 120 552437 6282729 610BLPR6 Palaeo 121 97 to 115 553674 6283964 2000BLPR7 Palaeo 133 103 to 133 555371 6283674 1820

NOTES*** screens

at ***

VolcanicsAlluviumUncon.

Bores located in the oxidised volcanic horizonBores located in the alluvial sequenceBores located in unconsolidated sediments

105.92 to 109.97, 115 to 117 and 121.95 to 126Coffey Feb 1995 report* Report No. G255/24-AJField Readings taken November 2003

See Figure11 for BCP bore locations


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APPENDIX C

SEDIMENT SAMPLING METHODOLOGY


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Cowal Gold Mine Lake Cowal Sediment Sampling Methodology

The following sampling methodology has been developed in consideration of the 1991 Lake Cowal baseline survey methodology (NSR, 1991) to allow direct comparison with baseline analytical results, where possible. Lake Cowal water quality sampling should be undertaken at the same time (season) as the sediment sampling described below. Sediment Sediment cores are to be taken at the relevant lake monitoring points using an open barrel stainless steel gravity corer to depths up to 1 m. The corer will have polycarbonate linings which split (to provide access to the sample). The top 5 cm from 5 core samples at each site are to be removed (using a stainless steel knife) and placed in a clean ‘Whirl-pak’ for subsequent sample preparation and analysis. All sediment samples are to be wet-sieved to <63 µm. The percentage of material in this size range being the difference between the pre-sieving and post sieving weight of sample, (expressing the result as dry weight (103 to 105 c). The bioavailability of metals (As, Cd, Pb, Sb and Zn) in the sediment samples will be measured using 1 M HCl extraction test followed by Inductively Coupled Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICPAES) analysis. ICPAES is used to quantify Cd, Pb, Sb and Zn and Inductively Coupled Mass Spectrometry (ICMS) is to be used for As (pers. comm., Charlie Pierce ALS, 17 November 2010). Organic matter is to be determined gravimetrically by drying/ashing at 550 for 7 hours and measuring the weight loss. Particle size analysis is then to be undertaken at an agreed laboratory, using appropriate analytical equipment. The sample is to be dispersed in water and sonicated for 60 seconds prior to analysis. Extractable salt is to be assessed by moistening selected sediment subsamples to saturation, adding additional water as required after 2 hours, allowing the samples to stand for 24 hours, centrifuging to remove the solids and measuring the conductivity of the extract. Quality Control Corer and corer linings are to be cleaned in lake water using a plastic brush to remove clayey sediments. At all times, sampling personnel are to wear disposable plastic gloves. Samples are to be transferred to sample containers (polycarbonate sample containers) using stainless steel equipment. Samples will be kept cool in an Esky prior to dispatch to the analytical laboratory, for next day delivery.


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ATTACHMENT 1

CGM ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

Environmental Management StrategyEnvironmental Management Strategy

Monitoring Plan

Noise Management Plan

Noise Monitoring Program

Blast Management PlanBlast Management Plan

Blast Monitoring Program

Air Quality Management Plan

Air Quality Monitoring Program

Water Management Plan

Surface Water Monitoring Program

Emergency Response Plan/Pollution Incident Response Plan

Emergency Response Plan/Pollution Incident Response Plan

Hazardous Waste and ChemicalManagement Plan

Hazardous Waste and ChemicalManagement Plan

Cyanide Management Plan

Transport of Hazardous Materials Study

Indigenous Archaeology andCultural Heritage Management Plan

Indigenous Archaeology andCultural Heritage Management Plan

Heritage Management PlanHeritage Management Plan

Surface Water, Groundwater,Meteorological and Biological

Monitoring Program

Surface Water, Groundwater,Meteorological and Biological

Monitoring Program

Groundwater Monitoring Program

Monitoring Program for Lake ProtectionBund, Water Storages, Tailings Storage

Facilities and Pit Walls

Monitoring Program for Lake ProtectionBund, Water Storages, Tailings Storage

Facilities and Pit Walls

Rehabilitation Management Planincluding Rehabilitation StrategyRehabilitation Management Planincluding Rehabilitation Strategy

Rehabilitation Monitoring Program

Flora and Fauna Management Plan

Threatened Species Management Protocol

Land Management Plan

Soil Stripping Management Plan

Erosion and Sediment ControlManagement Plan

Erosion and Sediment ControlManagement Plan

Biodiversity Offset Management Planincluding Offset Strategy

Biodiversity Offset Management Planincluding Offset Strategy

Offset Monitoring Program

Threatened Species Management Strategies

Cowal Gold Project EIS (1998)

DA (14/98)

Notification of Modification (Mod 11)(July 2014)

Notification of Modification (Mod 11)(July 2014)

Annual Review

Independent Environmental Audit

EPL 11912

ML 1535

DA (2011/64)(Eastern Saline Borefield)

DA (2011/64)(Eastern Saline Borefield)

Independent Monitoring Panel Review

Compensatory WetlandManagement Plan

Compensatory WetlandManagement Plan

E N V I R O N M E N TA L M A N A G E M E N T S T R AT E G Y

HAL-02-07_RB SW GW M&BMP 2014_005A

CGM EnvironmentalManagement System

ATTACHMENT 1

Documents

evolutionmining.com.au...2015/11/19 · rehabilitation design criteria, and refining the baseline environmental database. • The objectives of the biological monitoring programme