Welcome to the Modern History page. This page is currently being developed so at this point in time you will not have a complete time-line to peruse as there will be a number of gaps until I can get all the information I have onto this webpage. There will also be links to the relevant documents mentioned though out the history time-line.
Late updated 27th December 2013
Late updated 27th December 2013
Woodsreef History.
2013- November. Air monitoring starts in and around the Woodsreef area. Air monitoring is being conducted by SLR Consulting.
2013 - September 6th. Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson calls public meeting in Barraba to discuss the findings of the Scoping Study for the possible re-routing of the Mine Road. Scoping study available here.
2013 - August 16th WCAG meets at Playhouse Hotel in Barraba. Minutes available here.
2013 - June 24th. WCAG meets with Woodsreef Taskforce at the Playhouse Hotel in Barraba. Minutes available here.
2013 - June 6th. WCAG has inaugural meeting at the Playhouse Hotel in Barraba. Minutes available here.
2013 - June 4th. Kevin Anderson, member for Tamworth announces scoping study into the re-routing of Mine Road.
Media Release available here.
2013 - May 20th. Woodsreef Community Advisory Group formed (WCAG). Community representatives are Paula McIver,
David Witten and Danny Ballard. Kate Maddison, Woodsreef Taskforce Project Manager, Mineral Resources is Chair.
2013 - February 26th. Tamworth Regional Council at it's Ordinary Council Meeting consents to the closure of part of the Mine Road. It also resolved to write to State government agencies to request that the Department of Trade and Investment - resources and energy be declared as the roads authority for the section of Woodsreef Road to the north of the Mine site.
2013 - February 8th. Woodsreef Taskforce advertises for Expressions of Interest for the formation of the "Community Consultation Group". Closing date for EOI is 1st March 2013.
2012 - November 20th. Report from B.C. Sharrock, property valuer say no change in land value is expected if part of "The Mine Road" was closed.2012 - October 16th. Woodsreef Taskforce meets in Maitland.
2012 – August 14th. Barraba CDC sends submission in to object to the closure of “The Mine Road”. A number of objections from other community members were also sent during the submission period.
2012 – August 1st. Paula McIver, Barraba Community Member sends letter to Brad Mullard reiterating motions moved at the 26th July meeting in Barraba with the Woodsreef Taskforce.
2012 - July 26th. Woodsreef Taskforce conducts meeting with Barraba Community in Barraba to discuss plans current remediation plans for the Woodsreef mine including the proposal to close "The Mine Road". Minutes of meeting taken by Sarah Marrett Barraba CDC secretary.
2012 – July 18th. Crown Lands advertise the proposal to close “The Mine Road” by the Minister for NSW Department of Primary Industries.Submissions invited by interested persons.
2011 - November 8th. Tamworth Regional Council discusses request from Office of Resources and Energy to close part of "The Mine Road" as item 8.10 at councils ordinary council meeting. Council resolves to consider request once Woodsreef Taskforce has consulted with Barraba community.
2011 – January 27th. NSW Labour Government Minister for Primary Industry Steve Whan announces $ 6.3 million in funding for
rehabilitation of Woodsreef Mine.
2011 - Hunter New England health publish warnings about health risks associated with visiting Woodsreef mine site. Dr David
Durham says the mine is not safe for sight seeing or other recreational activities.
2011 – NSW Liberal/National Coalition (opposition) pledges 5.5 million for clean up at Woodsreef if the win government in November says Catherine Cusack. Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Sustainablity.
2011- August 9th. NSW government releases report "Responding to the asbestos problem : a need for significant reform, state
government response 2011". Government pledges 6.3 million for clean up, comprehensive air monitoring program, health
risk assessment and appropriate management options for Mine Road including closure to reduce public access to mine.
2010 – Russ Watts of Tamworth sends detailed proposal by Watts Asbestos for remediation of Woodsreef Mine including
revegetation strategy to Tamworth Regional Council, Peter Draper (who sent it onto Barry O’Farrell) and Kevin Anderson.
2010 - November 10th. State Ombudsman's report released "Responding to the asbestos problem : a need for significant reform". One whole chapter of this report is devoted to the Woodsreef Mine.
2008 - September 9th. TRC councillor Shirley Close advises council that she had attend meeting in Sydney regarding the proposed Woodsreef mine rehabilitation with the AMWU, Premier Nathan Rees, Primary Industries Minister Ian McDonald, Minister Paul Lynch and Minister for Health Reba Meagher.
2008 - August 28th. TRC sends letter to Minister Ian McDonald advising of motions moved by council.
2008 - August 27th. Hunter New England Health issues statement saying that it has made recommendations to the DPI taskforce
about the possible health threats of the Woodsreef mine to residents and motorists. Will not release information to public. Says Primary Industries is the lead goverment agency.
2008 - August 26th. Tamworth Regional Council passes motion to form an alliance with AMWU other unions and the Barraba community to ensure State takes responsibility to isolate site, construct alternate road around site, recognise chrysotile asbestos as a class 1 carcinogen, provide an education program on the dangers of asbestos for the Barraba Community and school children.
2008 - August 14th. NSW Government announces formation of Woodsreef Taskforce. Minister Ian McDonald states the Taskforce is considering options for the ongoing management of Woodsreef, including air quality monitoring.
2008 – August 8th. “The 7.30 Report” (ABC.TV) runs story “Abandoned asbestos mine causes community
outrage" reporter Matt Peacock.
2007 - International Mineral Corporation's Chris Sylvester says the company is hoping to exploit silicon and magnesium in the
Woodsreef mine tailings. He also says the resource has a metal value of over 50 billion dollars.
2006 - June. International Mineral Corporation wins tender for exploration license at Woodsreef abandoned asbestos mine.
2004 - April. DPI receives exemption under section 284 of Protection of the Environment Operations due to not being practical to put 300 cubic metres of contaminated sediment into bags containing no more then 25 kg of contaminated material.
2003 - Fauna and flora impact assessment report for the areas of proposed sediment control works at Woodsreef Asbestos Mine /
prepared by Phil Spark for the Department of Mineral resources “Safety protocol: entry to former Woodsreef Asbestos Mine site near Barraba, NSW” prepared for NSW Department of Mineral Resources Derelict Mines completed by HLA-Envirosciences Pty. Ltd.
2000 – 29th June. Barraba Shire Council sends quote with all technical drawings and costing to re-route “The Mine Road”(AKA Crow Mountain Road) to NSW Department of Mineral Resources.
2000 - May. Golden Triangle Resources says it is going to accelerate it's serpentinite to magnesium project. Says tailing dump holds 5.5 million tonnes of magnesium that could supply a refinery for 50 years at 80 000 tpa. They say they need a capital investment of 680 million.
2000 – Report:” Woodsreef Mine Mill waste disposal” for NSW Department of Mineral Resource completed by Dames and Moore.
2000 - Woodsreef Mill House Rehabilitation Project: Environmental and occupational airborne asbestos Asbestos fibre monitoring
results weather station meteorological data 26th May – 22nd June 2000 prepared HLA – Envirosciences Pty Limited.
1999 - July. Perimeter fence (part) completed by Dishers' Fencing at a cost of $240 000.
1999 – Woodsreef Asbestos Mine report for New South Wales Department of Mineral Resources completed by T & T Metal and
Asbestos Services Pty Ltd.
1998 - Golden Triangle Resources takes out exploration license at Woodsreef hoping to be able to extract magnesium from tailings.
1998 – “Methodology & safety management plan: Woodsreef Asbestos Mine: Mill House rehabilitation” Completed by T & T Metal
& Asbestos Services Pty Ltd. “Woodsreef: development of a rehabilitation strategy” completed by Clayton Heath Richards.
1997- Dames and Moore report “Woodsreef Mine, Hazard and Risk Assessment” completed for DMR including water and soil
monitoring.
1996 – “Woodsreef Asbestos Mine, Barraba. Synopsis for Risk Assessment” Completed by NSW EPA.
1993 – A consortium of Marrall Pty Ltd, Mineral Commodities NL and Black Hill minerals say they will reopen the mine and trial a wet
milling process to clean up the tailings dump.
1992/93 - DMR and DLWC spend $160 000 on sediment control and water management at Woodsreef mine site.
1992- “Asbestos Dust Monitoring Results for the Tailings Dump, Woodsreef NSW” completed by DMR. Conservation Service develops series of catchment and siltation dams at Woodsreef mine site.
1989/91- Monitoring of movement and slumping undertaken for tailings dump and south western rock dump by DMR.
1987 - May 21st. Woodsreef Mines (parent company of Chrysotile Corporation) changes name to Mineral Commodities Limited.
1986 - “Barraba Mine Rehabilitation Feasibility Study” completed by NSW Public Works Department.
1985 – “Woodsreef asbestos tailing retreatment by wet processing: environmental impact statement” prepared by Woodsreef
Mines Limited.
1984 – “Woodsreef Mines, Preliminary Design of Tailing Disposal System” completed by Coffey and Partners Pty Ltd.
1983 - Mining ceases due to Chrysotile Corporation of Australia Pty Limited a wholly owned subsidiary of Woodsreef Mines Limited experiencing financial difficulties.
1982- Investigation of” Wall Stability, Woodsreef Mine-Barraba NSW” completed by Coffey and Partners.
1980 – approx. Revegetation trials carried out by the Soil Conservation Service.
1978 – “Some Environmental Investigations at the Woodsreef Asbestos Mine” including water and sediment sampling completed by Toyer and Main for DMR. Asbestos & health in perspective, for Woodsreef Mines Ltd, completed by L.A. Brydon.
1974 – Report by A.G. Cumpston: Possible Environmental Hazards from Mining at Operations at Woodsreef. Report to the
Woodsreef Mines Limited Division of Occupational Health and Radiation Control, Health Commission of NSW” Completed.
1972 - Mining resumes at Woodsreef after a long absence of mining at the site. This time large scale.
1923 – Mine closes due to being unable to compete with imported fibre.
1918 – First asbestos mine opens at Woodsreef.