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In an aerial view, a section of the northern tailings dam wall, which collapsed in 2018, of the Cadia Goldmine is seen on November 08, 2024 in Orange, Australia. In the central west of New South Wales, Australia, residents near the Cadia gold mine are expressing serious concerns about potential contamination from mining operations. Cadia is the second largest gold mine in Australia. Many community members have reported health issues and elevated levels of heavy metals in their bodies, which they believe stem from dust and water contamination linked to the mine, media reports said. Despite the lack of definitive evidence connecting the mine to health problems, local residents are advocating for better regulatory oversight and transparency regarding environmental impacts. Newmont Corporation, the mine's owner, has recently filed a submission to continue mining at Cadia until at least 2050, a move the mining giant says will expand the gold mine's footprint in the area. Residents have raised concerns about the current and future potential impacts of the mine on the nearby Belubula River, which is home to significant populations of Platypus and Murray Cod. As tensions rise, the community grapples with the balance between economic benefits from mining and the urgent need to protect public health and the environment – a dynamic that may play out around other mines as demand for raw materials soars. (Photo by Brook Mitchell/Getty Images)
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