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Mining, Exploration and Geoscience

Captains Flat Taskforce

The Captains Flat Lead Management Taskforce was established in January 2021 in response to the detection of elevated lead levels in the disused rail corridor adjacent to the former Lake George mine.

The Captains Flat Taskforce was convened following the identification of high metal levels in the rail corridor by Transport NSW. The purpose of the Captains Flat Taskforce was to establish a common set of priorities, across agencies, to develop a whole of Captains Flat approach to lead management, thinking “Beyond the Mine Site”. The Taskforce provided a forum for development of responses that were anchored in best practice through rigorous cross-agency collaboration and discussion.

The Captains Flat Taskforce included representatives from:

Since its commencement, the Taskforce delivered:

  • The relocation of the Captains Flat pre-school
  • $400,000 in funding from Crown Land to QPRC for the remediation of the Foxlow Parklet
  • Mine site rehabilitation works (undertaken by Legacy Mines Program, NSW Resources)
  • Re-sealing of Miners Road, Copper Creek Road and SES compound
  • Ongoing free soil and water sampling by the EPA. 

The next phase of lead management in Captains Flat requires a community-integrated model, led by local Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council, with support and accountability from NSW Government.  The new model will ensure State Government, community and Local Government are working together in a coordinated and consistent approach to provide long-term lead management to the Captains Flat community.

Health advice

Potential health issues associated with lead exposure

 

Environmental advice

Everyday practices to live safely with lead.

 

Mine Site Rehabilitation

A brief history of Lake George Mine and rehabilitation works.

Lead Management Plan

The Taskforce also commissioned surface soil testing and other data collection activities on public land in Captains Flat and commissioned specialist consultants Ramboll to produce a range of reports collectively referred to as Lead Management Plans. The aim of the Lead Management Plan is to address exposure risks from lead linked to historical mining and landfill activities within the environment and the community. These documents are published below.

The Lead Management Plan (PDF, 2.98 MB) presents a management plan for contamination linked to the historic metalliferous mining and land-fill activities within the community of Captains Flat. The Lead Management Plan describes a process for long term environmental monitoring and evaluation of management processes and outcomes and provides strategies to minimise and manage risks from exposure to contamination associated with the former Lake George Mine site.

The Conceptual Site Model 

The Captains Flat Lead Management Plan Precinct is defined in the Conceptual Site Model and encompasses built areas of the Captains Flat community, the legacy Lake George Mine site and the Molongolo River from upstream of the water supply dam to a waterhole approximately 1.5km downstream of the mine. The precinct includes roads accessing Captains Flat (to a distance of at least 400m), the rail corridor (to a distance of 1km) and bushland areas at the perimeters of the community. The precinct was defined in this way to facilitate assessment of the degree and extent of contamination around source areas and to facilitate management of contaminant exposure risks to human health.

Abatement Options Assessment and Lead Abatement Plans

This Abatement Options Assessment (PDF, 6.62 MB) was developed to assess potential abatement options and inform the development of abatement plans on publicly owned land. The implementation and financing of the these abatement plans is the responsibility of the relevant landowning agency.

Standard Remediation Action Plan

This Standard Remediation Action Plan (RAP) (PDF, 1.26 MB) provides an alternative to preparation of site-specific RAPs for the remediation of private-land within Captains Flat, where lead contamination from historic mining or land-fill activities exists. 

The Standard RAP has been prepared to provide a streamlined approach for the assessment of soil contamination, by assuming a level of contamination based on existing information, in order to reduce the cost of the development assessment process.

For more information about the Standard RAP on private land please contact Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council.

Environmental Factors, Sampling and Monitoring

The Review of Environmental Factors documents consider and address the potential environmental impacts associated with the proposed lead abatement works at six locations and the eastern embankment on public land at Captains Flat.

If you have any questions regarding any of these documents please contact the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.


Living safely with lead

People can continue to safely visit, live and work in Captains Flat and can minimise potential exposure to lead by: 

  • Frequently washing their hands, particularly after working outdoors.
  • Regularly washing family pets and toys, including outdoor play equipment.
  • Regularly washing or wet-mopping floors, stairs and windowsills to reduce dust. 
  • Not allowing children to play in soil or dirt that may be contaminated, e.g. digging and building BMX bike jumps and tracks.
  • Using raised garden beds and covering exposed dirt with turf or mulch to prevent dust being carried by the wind. 
  • Washing fresh produce before cooking or eating.
  • Only drinking from the Captains Flat town water supply.
     

Questions and answers 

Visit Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council for further information.