Merlin Diamond Mine - CDE CAPITAL

Various contract works for the client including tailings dam maintenance, upgrade of mine access road and final site rehabilitation. This project was carried out over a long duration.

“CDE Capital’s significant
Aboriginal employment, secures a
unique and intimate relationship
with the land and it’s Aboriginal
people, flora and fauna”.

MERLIN DIAMOND MINE
Various contract works for the client including tailings dam maintenance, upgrade of mine access road and final site rehabilitation. This project was carried out over a long duration.

Client: Rio Tinto
Location: Booroloola, NT
Value: $5-6 million
Project duration: 2001-04

Project highlights

CDE’s reliable delivery of services for Rio Tinto at the Merlin mine, ensured ongoing work at the site from the raising of tailings dam walls to the final site rehabilitation when the mine closed in 2004. This opened the way for CDE to demonstrate their ability to employ and train local community people in the mining industry.

The Land around Borooloola is Sid Rusca’s Country, his Yanula tribal heritage and his pioneering work as an Aboriginal entrepreneur in the NT enabled a cooperative and consultative involvement with Rio Tinto and the local
Borooloola community on the project.

Little success had occured with local Aboriginal employment on site prior to CDE’s commencement, and from 2002
until the projects closure in 2004, CDE had around 5 or 6 employees full time on site working – and all but one was from the local traditional community.