Cadia Goldmine Confronts Major Environmental Class Action in New South Wales
Residents living near the Cadia goldmine in central western New South Wales have launched a significant environmental class action against the mining operation, alleging what they describe as a "toxic trifecta" of pollution affecting their community. The supreme court challenge targets Cadia Holdings, which trades as Cadia Valley Operations and is owned by global mining giant Newmont.
Community Allegations and Legal Proceedings
The Cadia Community Sustainability Network, represented by William Roberts Lawyers, claims that residents near the gold and copper mine have been exposed to air, land, and water pollution emanating from the mine site. The legal action seeks compensation for property value reductions and an injunction to prevent further pollution, marking what community representatives call a "last resort" after years of unresolved concerns.
Jann Harries, a lead litigant who lives approximately 3km from the mine, detailed the community's specific worries: "I've got heavy metals in my water, in my dams, my water tanks are testing extremely high for heavy metals. We're getting dust all through our grasses, which is probably affecting our stock." She emphasized that residents don't seek the mine's closure but demand better environmental stewardship from their industrial neighbour.
Scientific Evidence and Regulatory Context
The community group's claim includes allegations that independent testing commissioned by residents found pollution in creeks and groundwater flowing into the Belubula River at levels threatening local ecosystems and agriculture. The group believes contaminants including heavy metals and PFAS originate from Cadia's mining operations.
Oliver Gayner, principal lawyer at William Roberts, stated: "For several years the Cadia residents have repeatedly raised their concerns about the detrimental environmental impact caused by this mine. They have provided scientific evidence to Newmont and the EPA, but their concerns have not been addressed."
Recent Regulatory Actions and Findings
In 2025, the mine was ordered to pay $350,000 in fines after prosecution by the NSW Environment Protection Authority for breaches of clean air regulations in 2021, 2022, and 2023. This followed an EPA investigation into Cadia's dust emission management responding to community air quality concerns.
Also in 2025, an independent review of Cadia's water monitoring programs commissioned by the EPA found no conclusive evidence linking operations to significant waterway degradation, but did identify elevated heavy metal levels in some groundwater deposits and criticized monitoring program quality.
In August, NSW Health released findings from an investigation involving 14 community volunteers from seven properties near the mine, concluding "no definitive evidence of health impacts from heavy metal exposure among volunteers who were assessed."
Ongoing Monitoring and Corporate Response
A 22-month air quality monitoring program launched by the EPA in 2023 concluded in June last year, finding air quality around the mine site was generally good to fair. A Newmont spokesperson confirmed Cadia had been served with proceedings and stated: "Cadia will respond through the appropriate legal processes. As the matter is before court, it is not appropriate to comment further at this time. Newmont takes its legal and regulatory obligations seriously and is committed to environmental stewardship."
The case represents a significant test of environmental accountability in regional mining communities, with potential implications for how industrial operations manage their relationships with neighbouring residents and ecosystems.
