Cadia Environmental Portal
Welcome to the Cadia Environmental Portal - your central hub for accessing up-to-date environmental information and insights into our operations.
You can now obtain real‑time access to key environmental data, including surface water flows, noise, weather, and air quality, via the portal. This upgrade enhancement reflects our commitment to transparency and accessibility, and helps keep our community informed.
As the portal grows, we’ll continue adding more monitoring data to enable access and download of both raw and validated information.
Air Quality
About the data
How we capture and report
Specialised air quality monitors (BAM) located at four strategic areas around the perimeter of Cadia’s site capture a reading of the concentration of particulate matter in the air and create a 1 hour average reading for air quality. The readings are provided through to a to a central database where levels are actively monitored. The hourly and 24-hour averages of these readings are continuously updating and can be viewed in the dynamic charts above, or by clicking on the monitor locations map. Data is transferred from the monitors via the Telstra mobile network.
Beta Attenuation Monitor: The BAM automatically measures and records ambient particulate mass concentration levels using the proven principle of beta ray attenuation.
Note:
Unvalidated data: The data displayed is unvalidated data. ‘Unvalidated data’ refers to measurements or readings that haven't been thoroughly checked to confirm their accuracy.
Data availability: Data is transferred via the Telstra mobile network and can be affected by power outages or mobile network disruptions. Data is saved locally on the monitors and updated to the website when communications are re-established.
Negative values: Raw data can display negative values that are within the error margins of the instrument calibrations.
The data we report on
The air quality monitors capture and report on PM2.5 and PM10 pollutant levels.
PM stands for ‘particulate matter’ and is generally classified according to the size of the particles. For context, the diameter of a human hair is approximately 50-70 micrometers (um).
· PM10 - Particles less than 10um in diameter
· PM2.5 - Particles less than 2.5um in diameter
· PM1 - Particles less than 1 micrometre in diameter
Air pollution is caused by:
natural sources such as bushfires, dust storms, sea salt and pollen
domestic activities such as burning wood fires, including using wood heaters, fuel-powered garden equipment, and portable fuel containers
commercial businesses such as spray painters, printers, quarries, service stations
industrial activities such as coal and metal mining, oil refining and power generation
on-road motor vehicles such as buses, cars and trucks
off-road vehicles and equipment such as dump trucks, bulldozers and marine vessels.
NSW Government Air Quality Monitoring
Fact Sheets
Noise monitoring
About the data
How we capture and report
Our noise monitoring system operates continuously through a network of specialised monitors around the site perimeter. The system:
Captures real-time noise and weather data, including:
LAeq (A-weighted equivalent continuous sound level)
LAeq (16Hz – 160Hz) (low frequency noise component)
Wind speed (measured at the microphone location)
Averages these measurements over 5-minute intervals
Displays both 6-hour and 24-hour rolling periods
Uses the Telstra mobile network for data transmission to our central database
Maintains active monitoring through our central database.
How we monitor noise
This real-time monitoring system operates 24/7 using a network of specialised monitors around the site perimeter.
This new real-time noise monitoring program adds to Cadia’s initiatives to minimise our impact on the community.
Cadia staff conduct routine attended, unattended and traffic noise surveys at Cadia and the Cadia Dewatering Facility in accordance with the Cadia Noise Monitoring Program and the Planning Consent PA06_0295.
What our noise data captures
Our monitors record total environmental noise in all directions, including:
Natural sounds like wind, rain, and wildlife
Community noise from vehicles, aircraft, and agricultural activities
Mining operations and other local noise sources.
The variables presented on the noise monitoring data charts include:
5-minute LAeq (dB)
5-minute LAeq (16Hz – 160Hz) (dB) (low frequency noise component)
5-minute wind speed (metres per second or m/s).
Equipment details
Our monitoring system uses sound level meters that comply with Australian Standard/New Zealand Standard International Electrotechnical Commission (AS/NZS IEC) Class 1 specifications, with a measurement range of 17-144 dB(A).
Class 1 instruments represent the highest precision grade required by NSW regulations for environmental noise compliance monitoring.
Why Cadia is providing real-time noise data
This new real-time noise monitoring program goes above and beyond Cadia’s obligations under its operating licence, demonstrating our commitment to transparency and accountability to the local community.
Cadia understands that noise levels are often a concern for our neighbours. Providing this real-time data helps to address those concerns and ensure that our operations are as non-intrusive as reasonably possible.
Data accuracy and availability
Please note that the data displayed is unvalidated, meaning it has not yet been reviewed to confirm compliance or exclude environmental factors like wind, birds, rain, or external factors like road noise, farming operations or cattle. While our compliance reporting is based on LAeq 15-minute averages, we provide LAeq 5-minute data for greater real-time insight.
Understanding decibels, LAeq and Low Frequency Noise
Sound is measured in decibels (dB[A]), using a logarithmic scale to reflect human hearing sensitivity.
A-weighted decibels (dB[A]) account for how we perceive sound, with adjustments for low and high frequencies. LAeq measurements represent the A-weighted average noise energy over a specific time period, providing a reliable indicator of how noise is experienced.
The Low Frequency Noise Component presented in the charts is classed as industrial noise (inclusive of wind noise). This metric is defined in the NSW Noise Policy for Industry for identifying industrial noise.
LAeq and low frequency component noise statistics are affected by environmental noise, including wind. At wind speeds above 5 m/s, wind will be the dominant noise source.
If you have any questions regarding the results displayed on this page, please contact Newmont Cadia at: cadia@newmont.com