Water testing at Turon River shows no risk to swimmers from Sunny Corner mine

The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has completed water sampling in locations downstream of the old Sunny Corner mine near Lithgow and found no evidence pollution from the mine is impacting swimmers and recreational users on the Turon River.

The EPA conducted water sampling and analysis at several points on Daylight Creek, just over a kilometre from the mine to the Turon River campgrounds on the Turon River, almost 40km downstream from Sunny Corner.

Executive Director of Operations Jason Gordon said the EPA conducted the testing in response to concerns pollutants may have spread from the old Sunny Corner mine into surrounding waterways.

“The Sunny Corner mine was in operation from 1875 until 1949, and produced lead, zinc and silver. It was abandoned in 1967 and is a legacy mine,” Mr Gordon said. 

“Our aim with this water testing program was to ensure the mine did not pose downstream risks to swimmers or other recreational users at downstream campgrounds.

“Our results showed all recreational areas had good water quality and metals analysis results at these points were all within recreational water quality guidelines, showing no risk to swimmers and other users at three campgrounds downstream of the mine.”

Results at testing points closer to the old mine site show exceedances of aquatic ecosystem health guideline values for some metals.

Testing sites were chosen based on known recreation and camp sites, or proximity to the old mine. The EPA will consider additional seasonal testing at recreational locations to ensure they remain safe for swimmers. 

The EPA has shared the results with Mining, Exploration and Geoscience within the Department of Regional NSW.

More information including a map and the results is available on the EPA website: https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/working-together/community-engagement/updates-on-issues/water-sampling-turon-river-near-lithgow