A CONTROVERSIAL mine tailings site will be transformed into a new three-hectare section of the Bendigo Regional Park, under a clean-up plan, to cost at least $2 million, announced last night.Toxic sands containing arsenic and mercury, a byproduct of earlier gold mining in Bendigo, were dumped at the Liddell’s calcine sands site in West Bendigo.The sands were exposed by the Black Saturday fires two years ago, sparking protests from residents fearful for their health if the sands were blown from the site.Last night Parks Victoria announced a new plan to reshape the toxic sands, cap them with a layer of clay-based soil and plant the site with ironbark forest vegetation.A mix of wet recycled paper, grass seeds, organic glue and dye known as hydromulch has temporarily contained the sands since September 2009.Parks Victoria Greater Bendigo ranger-in-charge David Major said the plan for a permanent cap now had EPA approval.“We’ve developed a plan to bring soil into the site, modify the shape of the sands and cover them,” he said.“Once that’s been done, the surface material will be revegetated with similar vegetation to the surrounding regional park so we can make sure the cap stays intact for the long term.”Parks Victoria capital projects team leader Glenn Mawson said planning the cap has been a lengthy process.“We needed to be confident the final clean-up plan is appropriate for the community and will survive for the long term,” he said.

• jamied@bendigoadvertiser.com.au