Community and land use

Kangaroo Flat

The former Kangaroo Flat mine is located approximately five kilometres south of Bendigo in Central Victoria.

Background

The site operated as a gold mine until 2021. Ore was extracted underground, brought to the surface and processed onsite. The operation also included tailings storage facilities (TSF).

The mine along with other parcels of freehold land held by Kralcopic Pty Ltd (the former licence holder of several mine sites around Bendigo) reverted to Crown land in 2021 following the company’s liquidation. Resources Victoria then took on responsibility for managing the site and its rehabilitation.

Management activities

Resources Victoria’s first priorities after taking control in May 2021 were to make the site safe and secure, and to implement monthly dust monitoring. Results were reviewed by an independent EPA-appointed auditor and quarterly reports published until the first quarter of 2024.

Latest report

Kangaroo Flat Dust Monitoring Q1 2024 (WORD, 14.8 MB)

Historical reports

Kangaroo Flat Dust Monitoring Q4 2023 (PDF, 4.2 MB)
Kangaroo Flat Dust Monitoring Q3 2023 (WORD, 11.8 MB)
Kangaroo Flat Dust Monitoring Q2 2023 (WORD, 11.5 MB)
Kangaroo Flat Dust Monitoring Q1 2023 (WORD, 8.4 MB)

Resources Victoria has since implemented a management strategy for the site. This includes quarterly groundwater and surface water monitoring in addition to monthly dust monitoring. Results will be reported annually from mid-2025 and published here.

Monitoring and maintenance activities will continue until site rehabilitation is completed.

Rehabilitation activities

Previous, current and future rehabilitation activities related to the site are outlined below.

Year Works completed
2021
  • Dust suppression measures, comprising application of a polymer cover, implemented at the fine tailings storage facility on an ongoing basis.
  • Coarse tailings storage facility covered with waste rock to suppress dust.
2022
  • Swan Decline, Bendigo’s primary gateway to underground mining, permanently closed.
  • Independent EPA-appointed environmental auditor engaged to review rehabilitation requirements for the site.
2023
  • Historical records stored in office buildings preserved with 19 boxes of files and 1,350 photos scanned and presented to local historical societies and the Goldfields Library Corporation.
  • Bendigo Historical Society scanned approximately 40 bookshelves of newspaper clippings to assist with recording geological drilling locations.
2024
  • Environmental consultant engaged to conduct extended environmental monitoring program comprising groundwater and surface water in addition to dust.
  • Detailed site investigation underway to support the development of targeted risk-based environmental and remediation options assessments. These will form the basis for developing a rehabilitation plan for the site.
  • Office buildings and processing plant infrastructure sold and removed.

Resources Victoria will continue to communicate and work closely with the local community and key stakeholders during the development and implementation of the rehabilitation plan.

After the plan is approved, Resources Victoria will conduct a formal procurement process to engage a contaminated land remediation expert to commence site remediation works. Implementation of the rehabilitation plan will be a phased approach based on project funding and the approved scope of works.

Community updates

Resources Victoria is committed to keeping the community informed about rehabilitation activities being undertaken at the Kangaroo Flat site. In addition to publishing information here, new information is provided via email or by attending community meetings.

Please contact errfeedback@deeca.vic.gov.au if you would like to receive email updates about rehabilitation activities at the complex.

Enquiries and feedback

If you have any questions, concerns or feedback about rehabilitation activities at the Kangaroo Flat site, please contact Resources Victoria via errfeedback@deeca.vic.gov.au and provide a phone number if you would prefer a call back.

Page last updated: 17 Dec 2024