Cadia Goldmine Operators Fined $350K for Exceeding NSW Dust Emission Limits

The operators of Cadia goldmine have been slapped with a $350,000 fine after being found in breach of New South Wales’ clean-air regulations. Cadia Holdings Limited, trading as Cadia Valley Operations, pleaded guilty to three offences under the NSW Environmental Protection Act related to excessive emissions of heavy-metal laden dust, which in tests exceeded legal limits by more than 11 times.

Justice Sarah Pritchard delivered the sentence in the Land and Environment Court on Monday. The penalties included a fine of $150,000 for offences committed in November 2021 and March 2022, and an additional $200,000 for an offence in May 2023. Mitigating factors, such as a guilty plea, resulted in a reduced overall penalty. Beyond the fine, the operator must cover the EPA’s legal costs and install a new “dust tracking system” at the Mudgee site.

Newmont Australia, which acquired Newcrest in November 2023 and now owns Cadia, issued a statement confirming that remedial measures have been implemented and that the mine has met air quality standards since August 2023. “We recognise that our actions fell short of regulatory standards and our own expectations,” the statement read. “The health and safety of our environment, employees and surrounding communities are of utmost importance to us.”

The investigation, initiated by the EPA following a community-led water testing program that detected elevated heavy-metal levels in rainwater tanks near the mine, highlights the growing scrutiny of environmental practices in the mining sector.