Unity mine to switch off pumps

UNITY Mining will switch off its groundwater pumps early in the new year.The decision to do so will mean the Central Deborah Gold Mine will have to recommence water pumping to prevent the groundwater level from affecting its tourism operations.Unity Mining’s health, safety and environment manager Andrew Mattiske said the Kangaroo Flat mine was on care and maintenance with exploration no longer occurring.“We are going to cease de-watering the mine early in the new year,” he said.“The groundwater level will gradually start to fill up the mine over time and it will work its way up to the surface.”Unity had flagged its intentions to cease pumping with the City of Greater Bendigo, the Bendigo Trust, the Department of Primary Industries and Environment Protection Authority.CoGB chief Craig Niemann said a study would determine how long it would take for water to reach the Central Deborah level.He said estimates suggested it would take between 12 and 18 months for the water to reach the tourism mine.“How long it will take for the water to rise, the likely implications and impacts and what should an alternative be to keep the water level at an appropriate level to ensure Central Deborah can continue to operate, that research is happening,” Mr Niemann said.“Unity is at the table and that is a good thing.”Mr Niemann said Central Deborah used to pump water in the 1990s and it was likely it would re-commission its infrastructure to ensure the tourism attraction continued to operate.“Years ago Central Deborah used to pump water out to ensure it could operate,” he said.“Unity came along and started to pump more water out so they could mine for gold and it meant Central Deborah did not need to do it anymore.“Unity has got no formal obligation to pump.”