Superpit
These are troubled times for man – increasingly we are being forced to be introspective about our role in the world and it’s ecosystems. Global warming is becoming a real threat. The boundaries of what is acceptable behaviour by corporations and individuals are the source of much discussion and rhetoric.
In January of this year I took myself to what many would consider to be one of the frontlines in the struggle of man and nature, or perhaps more accurately, the urge to make financial gains at the expense of the environment. 6 hours inland from Perth, Western Australia, is the Southern Hemisphere’s biggest open cast gold mine. Situated next to the town of Kalgoorlie, the Superpit is a jaw dropping chasm that defies our conventions of what is possible – a mammoth hole in the ground, from which unbelievable riches are plundered daily. The mass consumption of fuel and the growing incursions into the outback ecosystems makes you wonder whether the idea of sustainable development will ever be a reality – as long as there is money to be made you can’t help but feel that exploitation of the worlds resources will continue.
However, beyond the politics of Australia’s mining industry there are a myriad of human stories – a workforce (predominantly male) that in many ways preserves the traditional “Aussie Bloke” (industrious, forthright, loves a cold beer) making a living in a harsh environment often thousands of miles from home. Dwarfed by the vast hole in the ground they have created, they work long hours throughout the year in searing heat, supporting their families who reside in the nations coastal cities. To these men, mining is a way of life that has often been passed on through generations. As the lifetime of mineral resources becomes shorter, the need to find an alternative, sustainable form of employment for the huge mining workforce will become of increasing importance.
