Actions
There have, however, been actions that people and organisations have taken or will be taking to minimise negative impacts on people and the environment. They are trying to make sure the landscape is not left in really bad state and health is not damaged for the future. A book called “Safety in Mining: An Opal Miner Guide” has recently been published by the Mining and Quarrying Occupational Health and Safety Committee and outlines the basic safety procedures an precautions that an opal miner should carry out in order to ensure his or her safety. It describes actions that should be taken from explosives to first aid. The NSW Department of Industry also has the goal in mind to ensure that any of the land that has or will be disturbed by mining operations will not have a negative effect on the environment. They want to ensure that the land can be used sustainable after all of the mining has ceased. They have goals for the land to be rehabilitated so that it can be used for agriculture, forestry, heritage sites and more. In order to do so, they have strict requirements and enforcements to ensure that miners and companies comply with the regulations. Another small, yet effective, method used to reduce the danger of falling down a mine are the signs that are put up around the area. These warn people about the mine shafts and tell them not to walk backwards or run, and to be aware of the danger.
There are also a number of other actions that could be done to increase and ensure sustainability in Coober Pedy. Some recommendations of actions that can be taken in the future include developing the tourism industry. At the moment, tourists visit Coober Pedy in order to get a taste of the culture and history there. To enhance this, the town could implement more tourist attractions so that it becomes their primary source of income. There are two possible courses of actions that can be taken to deal with the miners who will become unemployed. One possible solution is to develop a program to teach the miners about an alternative line of work that will take place on the land that is currently being used for mining. Another alternative is to give the miners opportunities to work in a different field using their expertise. For example, they could get a job in mining health and safety. This will not only give them another opportunity to work but will also help to improve the sustainability of mining in different areas. The option of relocating these workers to a different part of Australia that also mines opals is only a short term solution. This is because the area that they move to will also run out of the mineral eventually, therefore only prolonging the issue.
The issue of silicosis may be addressed by creating a safety rule that requires all miners to wear protective masks while working in the mines. A solution to reduce the noise pollution may be to only allow blasting and use of equipment louder than a limit (eg: 60 decibels) during certain hours of the day and only for a certain period of time (eg: 10 seconds). Although all shafts are supposed to be filled in with earth or covered with sheet metal once they have been mined completely, there is still the danger of someone falling down a hole that is still being mined, has not been covered properly or has not been covered at all. To ensure the safety of people, stricter policies could be implemented with specific requirements such as needing to get the mine signed off by an official once it has been covered and poses no more threats. Another issue is the waste mullock heaps that lie around beside the mines. A way of getting rid of these is to make a rule that all mines must be filled in, not covered so that this dirt and mullock is used up. To tackle the danger of someone falling into a mine that is still being used, the government could issue sheets compulsory reflective material that is used to cover mines at night or whilst no one is working on it. This will make it much easier to see during the day and night therefore reducing the danger it poses.
Planting trees on the outskirts of the Coober Pedy region and in the town will not only have a positive effect on the environment but will also help to provide the native animals with shelter. Eucalypts or gum trees would be ideal for this task as they have adapted to the environment in Australia and can survive with little water. If these trees are planted away from the mines, they will not be affected by the compaction of the soils and will grow healthily. Another benefit of these trees is so the animals do not have any incentive to wander into the mine fields where they are in danger of falling down a shaft. Instead to using petrol or diesel as fuel to power machines, diggers, drills and trucks, solar panels could be investigated. The climate in Australia is extremely hot and sunny so there would be no lack of sunlight to power these vehicles. As a back up petrol could also be used, however this solution would reduce the amount of carbon emissions dramatically.
All of these solutions would help to ensure that opal mining Coober Pedy is sustainable and can provide for future generations. If the mining is to continue, safety aspects will need to be looked at and improved. Actions can be taken to have a positive effect on the environment. When, however, the source of opal does run out, an alternative source of business such as tourism will be needed for the sustainability of the economy and community.
There are also a number of other actions that could be done to increase and ensure sustainability in Coober Pedy. Some recommendations of actions that can be taken in the future include developing the tourism industry. At the moment, tourists visit Coober Pedy in order to get a taste of the culture and history there. To enhance this, the town could implement more tourist attractions so that it becomes their primary source of income. There are two possible courses of actions that can be taken to deal with the miners who will become unemployed. One possible solution is to develop a program to teach the miners about an alternative line of work that will take place on the land that is currently being used for mining. Another alternative is to give the miners opportunities to work in a different field using their expertise. For example, they could get a job in mining health and safety. This will not only give them another opportunity to work but will also help to improve the sustainability of mining in different areas. The option of relocating these workers to a different part of Australia that also mines opals is only a short term solution. This is because the area that they move to will also run out of the mineral eventually, therefore only prolonging the issue.
The issue of silicosis may be addressed by creating a safety rule that requires all miners to wear protective masks while working in the mines. A solution to reduce the noise pollution may be to only allow blasting and use of equipment louder than a limit (eg: 60 decibels) during certain hours of the day and only for a certain period of time (eg: 10 seconds). Although all shafts are supposed to be filled in with earth or covered with sheet metal once they have been mined completely, there is still the danger of someone falling down a hole that is still being mined, has not been covered properly or has not been covered at all. To ensure the safety of people, stricter policies could be implemented with specific requirements such as needing to get the mine signed off by an official once it has been covered and poses no more threats. Another issue is the waste mullock heaps that lie around beside the mines. A way of getting rid of these is to make a rule that all mines must be filled in, not covered so that this dirt and mullock is used up. To tackle the danger of someone falling into a mine that is still being used, the government could issue sheets compulsory reflective material that is used to cover mines at night or whilst no one is working on it. This will make it much easier to see during the day and night therefore reducing the danger it poses.
Planting trees on the outskirts of the Coober Pedy region and in the town will not only have a positive effect on the environment but will also help to provide the native animals with shelter. Eucalypts or gum trees would be ideal for this task as they have adapted to the environment in Australia and can survive with little water. If these trees are planted away from the mines, they will not be affected by the compaction of the soils and will grow healthily. Another benefit of these trees is so the animals do not have any incentive to wander into the mine fields where they are in danger of falling down a shaft. Instead to using petrol or diesel as fuel to power machines, diggers, drills and trucks, solar panels could be investigated. The climate in Australia is extremely hot and sunny so there would be no lack of sunlight to power these vehicles. As a back up petrol could also be used, however this solution would reduce the amount of carbon emissions dramatically.
All of these solutions would help to ensure that opal mining Coober Pedy is sustainable and can provide for future generations. If the mining is to continue, safety aspects will need to be looked at and improved. Actions can be taken to have a positive effect on the environment. When, however, the source of opal does run out, an alternative source of business such as tourism will be needed for the sustainability of the economy and community.