Wednesday, 25th October 2006 (1416 views)

A gold mine in Australia is to help local farmers struggling with droughts by providing them with stock and domestic water.

Canada-based Barrick Gold, the owner of the Lake Cowal gold mine, has been working with farmers to try to come up with a sustainable solution to the water shortages in New South Wales, reports ABC Online.

Experts say the ground water level in the region has fallen up to 35 metres below ground level in two-and-a-half years as a result of the droughts, and many farmers are struggling to keep pressure in their water bores.

But the Lake Cowal gold mine has now agreed to give some of its stock and domestic water to local farmers if water levels continue to fall.

Mary Ewing of Lachlan Valley Water told ABC Online: "One of the requirements is that if those trigger levels are approached, you have to continue to supply the impacted stock and domestics. So while there is water there, I guess stock and domestic will be maintained."

The Lake Cowal gold mine is expected to be in operation for 13 years and produce around 2.5 million ounces of gold reserves.

 

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