The discontinuation of mining resulted in the pit filling with water, creating a pit lake around 700m in length. Black Diamond was the first pilot project under the Abandoned Mines Program. It was selected in response to community concerns regarding safety at the site, which had become a popular, unmanaged recreation area.
The focus of the project was to address the safety risks associated with the steep slope on the southern side of the pit. Following stakeholder consultation and endorsement of the engineering design by landowners and the Black Diamond Working Group, earthworks to batter down the southern pit wall were completed in 2016, along with additional site management of heavily eroded areas at the western and northern end of the pit lake. Revegetation works were undertaken in 2017.
As the primary safety risk associated with the Black Diamond site has been mitigated, Abandoned Mines Program involvement with the project is complete.
