Long-term management of the environmental effects of tailings dams

For many years New Zealand's mining legislation and minerals policies have promoted mining, however, it has only been within the last 16 years that legislation and policies have enabled the effects of mining activities on the environment to be considered in the licensing process.

The issue of long-term management of environmental risks is primarily of interest to local government as 'guardians' of the sustainable management of our natural and physical resources, and assessors of environmental effects. Central government also has an interest in ensuring that tailings dam sites are properly rehabilitated and maintained by mining companies and successive land-owners. Sites abandoned before clean-up is completed may, by default, become the responsibility of the Crown. 

The purpose of this study is to investigate these issues and to present options to central and local government and make recommendations for improving the long-term, post-closure management of tailings dams. It was initiated in direct response to a complaint about the long-term risks that tailings dams present to the environment. However, it also builds on a study by my predecessor: Golden Cross mining project environmental impact audit, 1988.