RIO TINTO Alcan has been forced to stop work at its bauxite mine in far north Queensland after underestimating its impact on residents.
Rio started work to raise walls of a tailings dam in Weipa in June 2008 after “careful consideration of environmental and community impacts.”
However, residents say their houses are constantly caked in thick red dust and their children cannot play outside.
Tailing dams store remaining materials from ore separation. The waste may be stored in dams, rivers, or underground for possible later use.
Work at the mine has stopped following sustained community opposition. Rio says a range of dust suppression measures will be implemented before operations resume.
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