Progress

During 2004, we made considerable progress in the ongoing assessment, closure planning, divestment and relinquishment of our legacy sites, and we continue to look for opportunities to progressively reduce our liabilities while ensuring that we meet our obligations and responsibilities for those sites. Specifically, we:

• sold our 50% interest in the Koolanooka iron ore leases.
• finalised and submitted closure proposals for the South Windarra and Windarra sites and the Kalgoorlie Research Plant. Closure works for these sites will commence in 2005 pending approval from Government.
• identified outstanding obligations at Lancefield, a gold mining operation which WMC sold in 1975. A program has been developed to agree and meet our environmental obligations at Lancefield and this will be progressed during 2005.
• completed work on the closure and rehabilitation of the Yeelirrie Uranium project at a cost of around $2 million. The final closure report was submitted to Government in December 2004. see case study
• continued discussions with regulatory authorities in the USA to develop an acceptable closure option for Carson Hill. Strategies have been developed which will be implemented in 2005 with an aim to be released from Carson Hill by the end of 2005.

View the status of WMC's Legacy Sites as at December 2004.

• Read about Our Approach to Land Management & Biodiversity.