Plans to expand the Kalgoorlie Super Pit goldmine are awaiting approval by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), who will advise on how to restore the site and tackle waste.
The pit, operated by Australia's largest gold producer KCGM, currently stretches from Kalgoorlie to the adjoining town of Boulder.
EPA is unlikely to ask Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines to fill in the 500m deep, 3.8km by 1.35km pit because there is not enough soil in the tailings dumps, writes the UK's Daily Telegraph.
The EPA has also imposed conditions on noise and vibration levels and managing seepage from tailings dumps as part of its recommendation to the government.
The Super Pit and the company's Mt Charlotte mine produce 850,000oz of gold a year.
By staff writer
