Mines and Works Inspection Regulations 2013

A person who carries out a mining operation must not place products, overburden, waste material, dams or materials so as to—

interfere with (or potentially interfere with) natural drainage;

or

cause (or potentially cause) damage to property; or

unduly interfere with the amenity of the area; or

permit the degradation of the sea, groundwater, or a river, tributary, stream, dam, watercourse, billabong or other body of water.

A person who carries out a mining operation must not permit the release of material so as to cause the pollution of air at the site.

The owner of a mine where an excavation occurs (or has occurred), or from which top soil is removed, must so far as is reasonably practicable take action to avoid undue wind and water erosion at the site or in relation to surrounding areas.

However, an act undertaken for the purposes of subregulation (3) must not cause degradation of the sea or groundwater, or a river, tributary, stream, dam, watercourse, billabong or other body of water.

If a mining operation or an associated, incidental or ancillary activity intersects 2 or more aquifers that have different groundwater qualities, the owner of the mine must ensure that groundwater degradation is minimised (both for while the mine is in operation and for when the mine is decommissioned).