Site risk assessments
The Legacy Mines Program (LMP) uses a modern risk-based approach that helps effectively prioritise the sites for rehabilitation or remediation.
Approach
This involves:
- data management for the effective evaluation of the program
- screening level (desktop) risk assessments
- site inspections to better understand the site
- undertaking remediation, safety or maintenance works
- regular reviews of risk ratings to ensure the delivery of the LMP’s goals.
This process builds on a site’s information base and triggers work as necessary to reduce risks. For example, on a contaminated site:
Initial risk assessment
High risk site suspected of offsite impact
Verification
Confirm high risk status via field sampling
Specialist input
'ESA and RAP' informs work. Revises risk assessment.
Risk ratings
Risk ratings are divided into two categories:
- Safety Risk Rating – the LMP safety risk ratings are guided by international standards and utilise the ISO31000 methodology for likelihood and consequence.
- Environmental Risk Rating – The program considers actual and potential environmental risks in six areas. These include:
- soil contamination
- surface water contamination
- groundwater contamination
- erosion and sedimentation
- stability and subsidence
- failure of containment structures.
Contact the program
Contact us at: legacy.mines@regional.nsw.gov.au.