August 11, 2010

Canada's Stanbroke to sue mine for water pollution

Stanbroke Pastoral Company plans to sue a Queensland mine for US$2 million for allegedly allowing chemicals to overflow, leaking into waterways used by cattle.

The beef company says its cattle lost weight and condition when they had to compete for water from paddocks not contaminated with chemicals. Stanbroke claims Xstrata's Ernest Henry mine allowed heavy metal chemicals to spill into paddocks and running creeks, making them unusable.

Stanbroke plans to sue for US$2 million in negligence due to the lost condition of the cattle and the resulting loss of income for the company.

Ernest Henry says it has spent US$1.5 million to remediate the area affected by chemicals and is upgrading storm water capacity on the mine site. It has not yet received any proceedings and a date for the hearing has not been set.