Fish kill blamed on abandoned mine

DEAD fish and other aquatic species including platypus, have horrified locals living near Jamie Creek and along the Walsh River and has led to accusations the issue is tied to the abandoned Bael Gammon Mine.

Images of the dead fish and water contamination of Jamie Creek late last month, causing locals to demand action on the abandoned Bael Gammon mine near Herberton.

Locals claim contaminated water has been released by the mine, around 15km west of Herberton, which is being operated by Abandoned Mines, a department that comes under the Department of Resources.

Watsonville resident Crystal Stone, who lives on Walsh River Road, says locals and environmental advocates are demanding urgent action after what they describe as a “catastrophic fish kill” in Jamie Creek.

“This incident has amplified concerns about ongoing contamination linked to mining activities and regulatory failures at multiple government levels,” she said.

Ms Stone claims the fish kill has caused widespread ecological devastation in the creek, which is a vital waterway that flows into the Walsh River system.

“The contamination threatens biodiversity, downstream communities, and agricultural operations,” she said.

The mine site has a long history of environmental issues, including untreated mine-affected water contaminating Jamie Creek as early as 2013, prompting Queensland Health to issue advisories against using the water.

Ms Stone says another occurrence of contamination more than 10 years ago had caused dead fish all the way down to Collins Weir.

“This latest fish kill is a clear sign that our environment has been neglected for too long,” she said.

“The contamination of Jamie Creek is not just a local issue – it’s an indictment of systemic failures that threaten the health of our waterways, wildlife, and communities. We will not stand by while government offices and regulatory bodies pass the buck.”

She has called on the government to provide public access to all environmental monitoring reports, internal investigations, and regulatory assessments related to Jamie Creek and Baal Gammon mine; launch an independent inquiry to identify failures in regulation, enforcement, and inter-agency coordination; implement stricter monitoring systems, clear regulatory frameworks, and enforceable standards to prevent similar incidents; and engage with affected communities.

A spokesperson from the Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Manufacturing, and Regional and Rural Development said the site was being “actively managed”.

“Since the Baal Gammon mine’s abandonment in 2019, the department has been actively managing the site, including undertaking remediation works and reducing the amount of acidic contaminated water on site by various means including controlled release of treated water,” the spokesperson said.

“These activities are undertaken to avoid the environmental and community health and safety impacts that could result from uncontrolled discharge of untreated water during wet season rainfall.

“The department is investigating recent reports of dead fish in the Walsh River near Watsonville in late November 2024, coinciding with the release of treated water from Baal Gammon into Jamie Creek.

“Early information suggests the treated water stirred up historical contaminants within Jamie Creek as well as temporarily increased water salinity, affecting a localised area of the Walsh River.

“No impacts to water quality at Collins Weir in the Walsh River have occurred.

“The controlled discharge has ceased, and water quality monitoring indicates water in the Walsh River has returned to baseline parameters.”

Ms Stone said affected residents and advocates will be organising public forums to demand action on the management of the mine.