Water management
Sunshine Reclamation works in compliance with State regulatory authorities such as the EPA and the Resources Regulator (formerly known as the NSW Mines Department). These regulators also have the powers of enforcement to ensure that the work we do does not leave an environmental legacy worse than that already caused by historic activities such as mining or processing. Given the condition of most sites that Sunshine Reclamation aims to reclaim, it is hard to imagine that they could be made any worse than they already are. Our company targets some of the worst polluting legacy and contaminated sites in the country. Sunny Corner is an example of this. The site has been recognised by the NSW Government as being in the top seven most contaminated derelict mines in NSW.
Most regulators report that they have never had a proposal come across their table to professionally reclaim and rehabilitate contaminated derelict minesites. Consequently, Government and legislation is more pitched towards preventing damage than cleaning up the legacies of the past.
Mining Lease versus a reclamation Lease
There is no legislative provision in the Mining Act (1992) or any other legislation for the issuance and regulation of a Reclamation Lease. However, it is important for the community, Government and the environment to ensure that activities undertaken to reclaim a contaminated site are regulated and compliant with the intent of the various legislation that normally regulates developments.
Compliance with Government Requirements
Consequently, in the absence of provisions for a reclamation lease, Sunshine Reclamation must apply for and operate under Mining Leases where the projects are derelict minesites under the legislation.
This does not change what we do – fixing the environment – it just means that we have the proper oversight from authorities under existing legal provisions.
Compliance with local regional requirements
A number of our planned projects are small and fit within the jurisdiction of local councils. We aim to work with these councils to achieve a positive outcome that complies with local regional requirements. Typically this involves going through a normal Development Approval process.