Anglo American is working in consultation with Banana Shire Council to restore safe access between Moura-Theodore Road and the Leichhardt Highway.
A routine blast at Anglo American’s Dawson mine on Thursday, 9 November 2017, triggered ground movement from the pit’s endwall to Gibihi Road.
Initial investigations into the cause indicate normal movement occurred during the blast, however this triggered a circular geotechnical failure, which resulted in ground movement, extending to cracking appearing on Gibihi Road.
Further extensive geotechnical analysis of the area has also been conducted and results indicate the area may be potentially unstable. Anglo American continues to monitor the area using a slope stability radar system.
The safety of our employees and all road users is the priority for Anglo American, therefore, Gibihi Road will remain closed until safe access between Moura-Theodore Road and the Leichhardt Highway can be restored. Anglo American is working closely with Banana Shire Council in consideration of a range of options and at this stage a timeframe for completion has not been established.
Detours are in place for the public via the Leichhardt Highway or via Kianga Road for light vehicles in good weather conditions.
Anglo American understands the closure of this section of road has caused inconvenience to road users and members of the broader community. In close consultation with Banana Shire Council, Anglo American is working to understand the impacts to the community as we finalise the plans to reestablish safe access. Following this analysis, Anglo American, in consultation with Banana Shire Council, will be in a position to consider how to address any impacts.
Gibihi Road will remain closed until all options are finalised and appropriate work undertaken to ensure safe access is complete. This requires detailed engineering work and anaylsis and, until this has been completed, timeframes cannot be confirmed. We recognise this may cause some frustration and we are committed to completing this as soon as possible.
Anglo American, in consultation with Banana Shire Council, will provide regular updates as this work progresses. Questions and feedback from the community is welcome, please email [email protected].