Douglas Mine
{{Short description|Former mine in Victoria, Australia}}
{{Use Australian English|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox mine
| name = Douglas Mine
| image =
| width =
| caption =
| pushpin_map = Victoria
| pushpin_label = Douglas Mine
| pushpin_map_caption =
| coordinates = {{coord|-37.2517|141.8236|type:landmark_region:AU-VIC_dim:3000|display=inline,title}}
| place = Kanagulk
| subdivision_type =
| state/province = Victoria
| country = Australia
| owner = Iluka Resources
| official website = [https://web.archive.org/web/20161231212756/http://www.iluka.com/company-overview/operations/operations/murray-basin-victoria-australia www.iluka.com]
| acquisition year =
| products = Heavy Minerals
| financial year =
| amount =
| opening year = 2006
| closing year = 2012 }}
The Douglas Mine, also known as the Douglas and Echo Mine, is a mineral sands mine near the town of Balmoral, Victoria, Australia. It was established in 2006 to mine rutile and zircon, and then closed in 2012.{{cite web |url=http://www.iluka.com/company-overview/operations/operations/murray-basin-victoria-australia |title=Murray Basin, Victoria, Australia |website=Iluka Resources|access-date=28 May 2018 }} Watpac estimated that it extracted 7.5 million tonnes of mineral sands from the mine.{{cite web |url=https://www.watpac.com.au/project/douglas-and-echo-mines/ |title=Douglas & Echo Mines |website=Watpac |access-date=28 May 2018 }}
Closure
Iluka Resources stated that it is committed to rehabilitating the site.{{cite web |url=http://www.iluka.com/company-overview/operations/operations/murray-basin-victoria-australia |title=Murray Basin, Victoria, Australia |website=Iluka Resources|access-date=28 May 2018 }} However The Age reported that Iluka Resources was seeking approval to continue to operate the Douglas mine site as a dumping ground for up to 20 years.{{cite news |last=Willingham |first=Richard |date=28 June 2015 |title=Horsham Council debates Iluka Resources mining dump site at Kanagulk |url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/horsham-council-debates-iluka-resources-mining-dump-site-at-kanagulk-20150628-ghzv8r.html |work=The Age|access-date=28 May 2018 }} ABC News reported that radioactive gas, a byproduct of the mineral sand mining, had been reported at levels that exceeded the maximum for public exposure.{{cite news|title=Radioactive gas levels at Wimmera mining site near Horsham too high says Landcare group |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-06-29/fears-aired-over-radioactive-gas-levels-at-wimmera/6579670 |work=ABC News|date=29 June 2015 |access-date=28 May 2018 }}
After the mine closed, The Wimmera Mail-Times reported that local landowners were concerned that the levels of air and water contamination were not being independently monitored.{{cite news |last=Scully |first=Sarah |date=13 February 2015 |title=Kanagulk Landcare Group calls for Iluka Resources to put up a bond for Douglas proposal |url=https://www.mailtimes.com.au/story/2879549/kanagulk-landcare-group-calls-for-iluka-resources-to-put-up-a-bond-for-douglas-proposal-photos/ |work=The Wimmera Mail Times |access-date=28 May 2018 }} However, the Environment Protection Authority declared that it found that neither pollution or environmental hazard has occurred nor is likely to occur in the future as a result of current and proposed disposal activities.{{cite web |url=https://www.epa.vic.gov.au/our-work/licences-and-approvals/public-participation/featured-applications/iluka-douglas-mine-site/iluka-douglas-mine-site-archive |title=Iluka Douglas mine site archive |date=8 December 2016 |website=Environment Protection Authority|access-date=28 May 2018 }}
References
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