WMC acknowledges tailings dangerous for birds
January 11, 2005.
<www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200501/s1279971.htm>
WMC Resources says it will do all it can to try and reduce the number of birds being killed at its Olympic Dam mine in South Australia’s north.
The South Australian Government has ordered a report after 100 birds were killed over a recent four day period.
Environmental agencies will visit the mine today to talk with the company.
WMC Resources spokesman Richard Yeeles agrees that the issue needs to be investigated.
“This is a very dry area and birds do see what appears to be a large body of water and will tend to land on these areas,” he said.
“We have had a deterent system in place which over the years has helped us to reduce contact between birds and tailings facilities, but it appears for some reason that this is not working as it has done in the past.”