A six-month remediation program for mine sites in Tennant Creek has been finalised, the Northern Territory government has announced.
The $5.5 million project, which is part of the Legacy Mines Small Mines Safety program, was undertaken to address public safety risks from historical mine sites.
The Tenant Creek safety works, which included backfilling 182 mine voids, installing 27 shaft covers and 35 adit covers, as well as fencing and signposting 16 mine voids, was delivered by DAC Enterprises.
The NT government said the company utilised 19 local businesses in Tennant Creek throughout the program, created six new jobs, and employed four Aboriginal workers, offering an economic boost to the town of 3,000.
"This program has been a real boost for Tennant Creek, not just in terms of safety but also in creating local jobs and supporting businesses," Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Steve Edgington, said.
"The work done through the legacy mine program shows how investment in regional communities can pay off. These jobs and business opportunities are essential for Tennant Creek and the Barkly region, and I look forward to seeing more of these projects roll out across the Territory."
Located about 1000 km south of Darwin, copper and gold have been mined in Tenant Creek since the late 1920s and the area was once the third-largest gold producer in Australia.
Mining Minister Gerard Maley said the program in the region was about ensuring legacy mine sites are remediated in order to protect communities as well as supporting regional economies.
"Mining has been an integral part of the Northern Territory's history for more than 150 years, but historical mining activities have left behind a range of legacy features such as open shafts, degraded infrastructure, tailings dams, and waste rock dumps," he said.
"This is about delivering on-the-ground results for regional and remote areas, with real benefits for local communities."
The government said planning was now underway for the next phase of remediation work in Alice Springs/Mparntwe and Pine Creek, with works progressing for legacy mine audits in the Katherine and Darwin regions as well.
A tender for small mines safety works around Alice Springs/Mparntwe is set to be released in the coming months, the government said.
