Stop Tivan mining in the Dunham River!

The Dunham River in the East Kimberley is a pristine, free-flowing river that rises between the Durack and O'Donnell ranges, flowing through the stunning Speewah Valley before joining the Ord River. In the wet season the Dunham provides huge flows to the Ord River and into Cambridge Gulf. During the dry season the river is fed by groundwater, and becomes a refuge for Gouldian Finches, Mertens’ Water Monitors, Barramundi, Black Bream and other Kimberley wildlife that depend on a clean, fresh, and flowing river. For Traditional Owner Sally Martin, Speewah valley has been part of her history for many generations, “It’s a place I’m always in awe of. It’s tranquility and it’s a place of peace.”

But the future of this pristine river system and the entire East Kimberley hangs in the balance.

Image: Letterbox Gorge, Dunham River, East Kimberley.

Traditional Owners are deeply concerned about a current proposal to mine for critical minerals right next to the Dunham River. Tivan Ltd has proposed to extract 8.4 million tonnes of fluorite ore from an open-cut mine located immediately alongside the river. The company proposes to process the ore on site using thousands of tonnes of chemicals, with 6.74 million tonnes of toxic waste to be stored in a tailings dam at the very top of the river catchment. The region is prone to extreme wet-season flooding, creating a serious risk that waste could enter the Dunham River through dam failure or overtopping.

Tivan has also proposed pumping water from the mine pit back into the landscape, potentially discharging billions of litres of contaminated pit water into the Dunham River over the life of the mine.

The risks to the Dunham River, its wildlife, downstream communities and businesses along the wider Ord River system are unacceptable. Environs Kimberley are calling on you to help protect the Dunham, so that Kimberley Rivers stay clean, healthy and safe for generations to come.

Join us in urgently calling on the WA Premier Roger Cook, Environment Minister Matthew Swinbourn and Minister for Mines, Petroleum and Exploration, and Water Daniel Pastorelli to reject Tivan Ltd’s mining application.

Sign our petition to send a strong message to the WA Government: Stop the toxic Speewah Fluorite Mine. Save the Dunham River.

Send a message to oppose the Tivan mine in East Kimberley

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Dear Minister Swinbourn,

Yours Sincerely,
[Your name will be added automatically]

Protect the Dunham River from the Speewah Fluorite Mine
The proposed Speewah Fluorite Mine in the East Kimberley poses an unacceptable risk to one of the Kimberley’s most pristine river systems.
Tivan Ltd’s proposed open-cut mine in the Speewah Valley is located right next to the Dunham River, a free-flowing waterway and vital tributary of the celebrated Ord River. The proposed development is enormous, with mine pits approximately 2km long, 180m wide and 105m deep, within a development footprint of 9,307 hectares.
A major contamination risk
The proposed mine poses serious risks to the East Kimberley’s environment, culture and future. Located beside the undisturbed Dunham River catchment, the mine could harm wildlife, traditional food sources and the downstream Ord River. 
The mining could:
<ul style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal">
Pump contaminated pit water into the landscape: Tivan has proposed to inject contaminated water from the mining pit into the groundwater and/or directly into the Dunham River. Water in the mining pit is likely to contain elevated levels of fluoride, copper and other heavy metals which can harm animals in the river, human health and downstream wetlands.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">
Store toxic waste at the headwaters of the Dunham River: Thousands of tonnes of chemicals used in the processing plant will be transported into the East Kimberley for use on site, and 6.74 million tonnes of waste chemicals would be stored in a dam at the headwaters of the Dunham River. In the event of an extreme flood the dam’s spillway could overflow into the Dunham River. In a region with monsoonal rainfall and major flood events, a tailings dam failure or overflow would be catastrophic.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">
Deplete groundwater and change the Dunham’s natural flow: Even when there is no rain the Dunham River remains clean and healthy because it is fed by groundwater in the dry season. Tivan wants to extract 4.5 billion litres of groundwater per year. Extracting groundwater would disturb the flow regime of the river and potentially be harmful to animals that depend on a clean, healthy and flowing Dunham River.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">
Create long-term pollution: Although the mine would operate for only about 10 years, toxic mining waste could pollute rivers, groundwater and sediments for decades or even centuries. Clean, healthy and free-flowing rivers are vital to the future of the Kimberley, and its rivers should be protected.</li>
</ul>
<img src="https://assets.nationbuilder.com/environskimberley/pages/9898/attachments/original/1787302421/DJI_0424.jpg?1787302421" alt="" width="741" height="555">
Image: Letterbox Gorge, Dunham River, East Kimberley.
The Dunham River is a vital wildlife corridor supporting animals including the Gouldian Finch and Mertens’ Water Monitor, and important fish populations such as Barramundi and Black Bream. Its catchment also supports pastoral activities and provides important wet-season flows to the Ord River and the Ramsar-listed wetlands of Parry’s Lagoon.
Any contamination of the Dunham could have negative impacts far beyond the mine site, affecting an interconnected river system and the communities and ecosystems that depend upon it.
Damage to Country is inseparable from the wellbeing, culture and identity of its people.
The potential for a catastrophe is too high. 
I call on:
<ul>
<li>
Premier Roger Cook to protect the Dunham River and its catchment from the long-term risks of mining and contamination.
</li>
<li>
Environment Minister Matthew Swinbourn to reject the proposed Speewah Fluorite Mine.
</li>
<li>
Minister for Mines, Petroleum and Exploration and Water, Daniel Pastorelli to reject Tivan Ltd’s application for a water licence for the project and prohibit mining in the Dunham River catchment in perpetuity.
</li>
</ul>

Read the message you will send

Dear Minister Swinbourn,

Protect the Dunham River from the Speewah Fluorite Mine

The proposed Speewah Fluorite Mine in the East Kimberley poses an unacceptable risk to one of the Kimberley’s most pristine river systems.

Tivan Ltd’s proposed open-cut mine in the Speewah Valley is located right next to the Dunham River, a free-flowing waterway and vital tributary of the celebrated Ord River. The proposed development is enormous, with mine pits approximately 2km long, 180m wide and 105m deep, within a development footprint of 9,307 hectares.

A major contamination risk

The proposed mine poses serious risks to the East Kimberley’s environment, culture and future. Located beside the undisturbed Dunham River catchment, the mine could harm wildlife, traditional food sources and the downstream Ord River.

The mining could:

Pump contaminated pit water into the landscape: Tivan has proposed to inject contaminated water from the mining pit into the groundwater and/or directly into the Dunham River. Water in the mining pit is likely to contain elevated levels of fluoride, copper and other heavy metals which can harm animals in the river, human health and downstream wetlands.
Store toxic waste at the headwaters of the Dunham River: Thousands of tonnes of chemicals used in the processing plant will be transported into the East Kimberley for use on site, and 6.74 million tonnes of waste chemicals would be stored in a dam at the headwaters of the Dunham River. In the event of an extreme flood the dam’s spillway could overflow into the Dunham River. In a region with monsoonal rainfall and major flood events, a tailings dam failure or overflow would be catastrophic.
Deplete groundwater and change the Dunham’s natural flow: Even when there is no rain the Dunham River remains clean and healthy because it is fed by groundwater in the dry season. Tivan wants to extract 4.5 billion litres of groundwater per year. Extracting groundwater would disturb the flow regime of the river and potentially be harmful to animals that depend on a clean, healthy and flowing Dunham River.
Create long-term pollution: Although the mine would operate for only about 10 years, toxic mining waste could pollute rivers, groundwater and sediments for decades or even centuries. Clean, healthy and free-flowing rivers are vital to the future of the Kimberley, and its rivers should be protected.

Image: Letterbox Gorge, Dunham River, East Kimberley.

The Dunham River is a vital wildlife corridor supporting animals including the Gouldian Finch and Mertens’ Water Monitor, and important fish populations such as Barramundi and Black Bream. Its catchment also supports pastoral activities and provides important wet-season flows to the Ord River and the Ramsar-listed wetlands of Parry’s Lagoon.

Any contamination of the Dunham could have negative impacts far beyond the mine site, affecting an interconnected river system and the communities and ecosystems that depend upon it.

Damage to Country is inseparable from the wellbeing, culture and identity of its people.

The potential for a catastrophe is too high.

I call on:

Premier Roger Cook to protect the Dunham River and its catchment from the long-term risks of mining and contamination.
Environment Minister Matthew Swinbourn to reject the proposed Speewah Fluorite Mine.
Minister for Mines, Petroleum and Exploration and Water, Daniel Pastorelli to reject Tivan Ltd’s application for a water licence for the project and prohibit mining in the Dunham River catchment in perpetuity.

Yours Sincerely,
[Your name will be automatically added]

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