Rockfall Chaos: 450 Workers Sacked as Koolan Island Mine Closed Over Safety Fears
- Mount Gibson Iron announces devastating redundancies at remote Western Australian mine site
- Koolan Island mine shut down after ‘significant’ rockfall sparks safety concerns
- Only 75 employees to remain on site for ore processing and rehabilitation works
In a shocking blow to Western Australia’s mining industry, Mount Gibson Iron has announced the immediate closure of its Koolan Island mine site due to a catastrophic rockfall that has left the operation crippled. The devastating news means 450 workers will be made redundant, leaving families and communities reeling.
The Koolan Island mine, located off the northern Kimberley coast, has been plagued by safety issues in recent years. The latest rockfall incident, which occurred on the eastern footwall of the site’s main pit, was deemed too severe to remediate, prompting the company to pull the plug on the operation.
Mount Gibson Iron chief executive Peter Kerr expressed his deep disappointment at the decision, citing safety as the company’s top priority. “It is extremely disappointing for the company and its people that we must prematurely ramp down operations at Koolan Island, however the physical safety of our personnel is our prime consideration,” he said.
The closure of the mine has sent shockwaves through the local community, with many workers facing an uncertain future. The company has vowed to support affected personnel, promising to pay all employee entitlements in full and provide access to support services.
The Koolan Island mine has a long and storied history, dating back to its days as a BHP operation. Mount Gibson acquired the site in 2007 and recommenced shipments after a two-year seawall reconstruction and mine refurbishment program.
However, the mine’s troubled past has continued to haunt the operation, with this latest incident proving the final nail in the coffin.
As the dust settles on this devastating news, the community is left to pick up the pieces and wonder what the future holds for the region’s mining industry.
One thing is certain: the closure of the Koolan Island mine will have far-reaching consequences for the people of Western Australia.