We were engaged by Kimberley Metals Pty Ltd to assist with a pre-feasibility study to develop the Sorby Hills lead, silver, zinc deposit in the East Kimberley region of Western Australia. The deposit was first investigated in the late 1970s and early 1980s when a decline encountered large groundwater inflows.
Client
Kimberley Metals Pty Ltd
Project
Sorby Hills: pre-feasibility study
Sector
Mining
Services
Field services, approvals & licensing
Comprehensive investigation program
We designed an investigation program to gain an understanding of pit dewatering issues and options.
Our fieldwork included test pumping trials and to determine dewatering requirements for the proposed mine development. The work was also used to support the submission to the Department of Water – Western Australia as part of the project approvals process.
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Our team’s expertise is in groundwater modelling, field services, approvals and licensing, water supply, contaminant investigation, expert advisory, and hydrogeochemistry. Learn more about our services by clicking the link below.
We have had a long standing relationship with U&D Mining (Australia) Pty Ltd and on the Meteor Downs South Project since 2012. Our initial work on the central Queensland project involved a review of an existing groundwater impact assessment for the proposed open-cut coal mine.
We undertook a gap analysis of the report and highlighted to the client a significant risk in the approvals process relating to groundwater. We were then commissioned to assist with the development of robust groundwater assessment to specifically address key risks in gaining approval for a mining lease. To do this, we successfully negotiated the use of an existing numerical groundwater model for a nearby project that covered the same area. The numerical model was modified to include the Meteor Downs South Project and to explore potential groundwater impacts.
Client
U&D Mining
Project
Meteor Downs South: groundwater assessment
Sector
Mining
Services
Approvals & licensing, field services, groundwater modelling, groundwater supply
Ongoing support through monitoring and approvals
Once conditional approval of the mining lease was granted, we were engaged to support the make good agreement with a nearby stakeholder. We conducted field investigations including the design, installation and testing of a groundwater monitoring network to validate the numerical model predictions and assumptions. This resulted in the successful negotiation of the make good agreement between our client and the external stakeholder.
Separate to this work, we managed the baseline data collection for the site. We conducted routine monthly groundwater monitoring over 12 months to finalise the draft Environmental Authority conditions relating to the development of groundwater trigger levels. The baseline data collection and trigger levels were also used to support the formulation of a Groundwater Monitoring and Management Plan to satisfy state and federal approval conditions. We provided further assistance in liaising with the state and commonwealth to ensure approval of the document.
Our work for U&D Mining has continued through the approval process and we have recently been engaged to assist in securing a groundwater supply for construction purposes and early stages of mine development.
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Our team’s expertise is in groundwater modelling, field services, approvals and licensing, water supply, contaminant investigation, expert advisory, and hydrogeochemistry. Learn more about our services by clicking the link below.
The Ashton coal mine is located approximately 14 km west of Singleton in the Hunter Valley region of New South Wales and comprises an active underground mine and a decommissioned open cut. The mine targets the Whittingham Coal Measures of the Sydney Basin.
We were engaged to conduct a range of hydrogeological services. We’ve also worked with Yancoal to improve the efficiency of systems for groundwater data collection and storage to ensure environmental approval commitments are met.
Client
Yancoal Australia Limited
Project
Ashton Coal Mine: groundwater monitoring
Sector
Mining
Services
Groundwater monitoring, field services, updating groundwater flow model, reporting for regulatory compliance
Meeting environmental approval commitments
We supported Yancoal across a range of hydrogeological services, including:
- monitoring groundwater levels and quality
- reporting regulatory compliance (2015 to present)
- undertaking field activities including bore census, monitoring network review and upgrade, monitoring bore installation and hydraulic testing
- updating the groundwater flow model (MODFLOW-USG) to improve inflow and water take partitioning predictions
preparing groundwater aspects of extraction plans and risk assessment - preparing end of longwall panel reports for regulatory compliance.
We’ve worked with Yancoal to improve the efficiency of systems for groundwater data collection and storage to ensure environmental approval commitments are met.
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Our team’s expertise is in groundwater modelling, field services, approvals and licensing, water supply, contaminant investigation, expert advisory, and hydrogeochemistry. Learn more about our services by clicking the link below.
The Mt Arthur coal mine is an open-cut coal mine located approximately 6 km south-west of Muswellbrook, in New South Wales. The project occurs within the Sydney Basin and targets the Wittingham Coal Measures.
We have enjoyed a long-term relationship with Mt Arthur mine assisting with various groundwater related issues and assessments.
Client
Resource Strategies on behalf of Hunter Valley Energy Coal Pty Ltd
Project
Mt Arthur coal mine: groundwater impact assessment
Sector
Mining
Services
Field services, approvals & licensing
Upgrading the groundwater monitoring network
Part of this work has included a groundwater impact assessment for Resource Strategies on behalf of Hunter Valley Energy Coal Pty Ltd.
In addition, we have been engaged directly by Mt Arthur Coal to plan and implement an upgrade to the existing groundwater monitoring network. This includes vibrating wire piezometer and monitoring bore installation, hydraulic testing and bore remediation works.
We have also completed routine reporting to address conditions of mine approval, which includes annual groundwater reviews and trigger investigations.
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Our team’s expertise is in groundwater modelling, field services, approvals and licensing, water supply, contaminant investigation, expert advisory, and hydrogeochemistry. Learn more about our services by clicking the link below.
The Watermark Coal project was a planned greenfield open-cut coal mine located approximately 25 km south-east of Gunnedah, in the Gunnedah Basin of north-west New South Wales. We were engaged to complete a groundwater study for the project’s Environmental Impact Statement. The planned mining area occurs in a ridge area adjacent to a deep alluvial groundwater system known as the Liverpool Plains alluvial aquifer. Irrigation from the aquifer, supports a large agricultural industry within the region. The key challenge with the project was to characterise the nature of the connectivity between the mining area within the Gunnedah Basin coal measures and the Liverpool Plains alluvial aquifer.
Shenhua Watermark Coal Pty Ltd employed an ‘in house’ hydrogeologist and implemented an extensive exploration and testing program. We used this information to develop conceptual and numerical models of the groundwater systems. The numerical model was developed to simulate natural groundwater processes and the stresses on the groundwater system including mining and irrigation in order to predict potential changes due to the project.
Client
Hansen Bailey on behalf of Shenhua Watermark Coal Pty Ltd
Project
Watermark Coal: groundwater study
Sector
Mining
Services
Conceptual modelling, numerical modelling
Outcomes we delivered
The outcomes included:
- quantification of groundwater take from the Namoi unregulated and alluvial water sources for licensing purposes
- predicted changes in water levels in the various aquifers
- assessment of impacts on key receptors, including private landholder bores.
View all hydrogeological & environmental services
Our team’s expertise is in groundwater modelling, field services, approvals and licensing, water supply, contaminant investigation, expert advisory, and hydrogeochemistry. Learn more about our services by clicking the link below.