The Vanua of Betoraurau, located in Sabeto, Nadi, has been informed about the construction of a water treatment plant by Lion One Metals Company. Pauliasi Natabe, chair of the Vanua’s Environment sub-committee, disclosed that the facility is intended to recycle water for gold refining purposes. However, he raised concerns regarding the effectiveness of this measure alone in preventing future wastewater discharges into the Sabeto River.
Natabe indicated that while the company had previously extracted water from the river without prior discussions about wastewater management, they are still waiting for confirmation from the Department of Environment on the river’s current safety status following recent contamination incidents. Approximately a week prior to this statement, an unfortunate discharge of wastewater—a result of human error—led to the death of various marine life in the river, fostering significant concerns over environmental safety.
In the past, Lion One Metals admitted that the discharged wastewater contained elevated levels of copper, affecting some local fish species. The incident was attributed to miscommunication between the mill operations and environmental teams, and Lion One has since issued an apology to the Vanua and the local community.
Similar articles emphasize the serious impact of contamination on local livelihoods, with residents raising alarms about fish deaths in the river due to mining operations. Concerns have been echoed by local leaders, who call for stringent environmental oversight to safeguard the Sabeto River and its ecological integrity.
There’s a collective hope among community members and local officials that the current situation will lead to improved communication and responsible practices between the mining company and residents. This incident serves as a critical reminder of the need for accountability in industrial operations, fostering a more sustainable relationship between business activities and community health.
The ongoing discussions and the push for comprehensive environmental assessments may very well lead to enhanced safety measures and better practices for protecting the local ecosystem in the future.
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