Government

Most States fund programs to rehabilitate and mitigate the effects of mines and contaminated sites that no-one owns.  This is especially applicable where these mines were operated many decades ago.  However, reclamation and rehabilitation is an expensive business and draws funds from other worthwhile competing funding priorities. 

Cost of reclamation

State-operated rehabilitation and reclamation provides no income to the State and is a significant liability.  At Sunny Corner, estimates range from $25 million for partial reclamation to hundreds of millions of dollars to fully reclaim and rehabilitate the site.  Some good work has already been done by the NSW Government and millions have been spent.  Unfortunately, there are millions more to spend to achieve a full (or even partial) clean up of the site.

The cost to fully rehabilitate and fix the site is far beyond what the NSW taxpayer can afford.  When it comes to schools and hospitals competing for funds against derelict mines, it is common sense that funds would be allocated to the schools and hospitals first.

Sunshine Reclamation realizes this dilemma, but if nothing is done, these sites will continue draining toxins and metals into our environment forever.  That’s why we aim to deliver the benefits to the taxpayer without the cost.

Reduction in cost to achieve Government aims

Sunshine Reclamation can undertake a lot of this work at minimal cost to the taxpayer while also generating a reasonable return to its investors.  This is achieved by extracting metals associated with the historical contamination.  Effectively, achieving rehabilitation of the site at minimal cost to Government and taxpayers.

Supplementing Government revenues

Moreover, when the metals are extracted from the contaminated materials and sold, Sunshine Reclamation pays a royalty to the State – providing a substantial revenue source.

Effectively, a significant drain on Government resources is alleviated and the site is turned from a liability to an income generating asset for the State.

Taxpayers

Taxpayers ultimately foot the bill for reclamation and rehabilitation of derelict mines and contaminated sites.  Most of us would like to see the environment improved but not at the cost of other priorities such as schools and hospitals.  Sunshine Reclamation can deliver the environmental benefits without the associated cost to the taxpayer.  Moreover, we deliver revenue to the Government that could be used on other funding priorities.

For us this is a rewarding feature of the work we do.  We get to  improve the environment, make a dollar and contribute to the good things that make society better.