Cleaning up Tui Mine
The Tui Mine was one of New Zealand’s most contaminated sites. A project to restore the site was completed in 2013. The site and local community are now safe from the dangers it once posed.
In the 1960s, miners extracted copper, lead and zinc sulphide from the Tui Mine. The mine was abandoned in 1973
Eventually, a dam that had been built to hold back byproducts of the mining operation was declared unstable.
This meant that these potentially dangerous minerals, particles and heavy metals could seep into the local water supply.
It also meant that a large storm could potentially destroy the dam, releasing a flood of toxins into nearby communities.
Something had to be done, so the government provided funds for the Tui Mine remediation.
The project worked to improve the safety of the dam in three phases.
- Treating and sealing the old underground mine workings.
- Remediating the dam and discharging contaminants
- Monitoring water quality in the Tunakohoia and Tui Streams.
The Tui Mine remediation project was successfully completed in 2013. The mine no longer poses risks to the health of the environment and the community.