Goldfields soaking disrupts some mining

Mining operations in the northern Goldfields have been disrupted by heavy rains as a storm associated with Tropical Cyclone Isobel moved south across the region and is expected to hit the south coast later today with 100km/hr winds.

Balladonia, 200km east of Norseman, received 134mm by 9am this morning and Laverton was soaked with 90mm.

BHP Billiton Ltd reported that open cut operations at its Rocky's Reward and Mt Keith nickel mines near Leinster had been suspended as a precaution due to heavy rains making conditions potentially unsafe. Mt Leinster airport recorded 32mm by 9am this morning, though it is understood flights to the fly-in-fly-out operations in the area were not affected.

A spokesperson said processing was being maintained and mininh would be resumed after the ground dried out.

The rain was described as heavy and constant.

Early reports suggest the storm's impact on the central Goldfields has been much less than anticipated, with heavy rains lacking high winds.

Regional Chambers of Commerce president Kitty Prodonovich, who also heads Kalgoorlie-Boulder's peak business organisation, said that generally the immediate Kalgoorlie area had not been badly affected by the rain.

Ms Prodonovich said that she was aware that some mining operations had been considering closing parts of their operations but had not heard whether that had occurred.

BHP's Ravensthorpe construction site has largely unaffected with only 10 per cent of the workforce on site due to the Christmas holiday season, though there are reports of severe flooding cutting off roads into Hopetown the main town near the proposed mine.

Along the sourthn coast, farmers were battening down for severe winds due to hit later today. Currently wind speeds of around 40 knots had already been experienced.

In the Pilbara, life was returning to normal after Cyclone Isobel hit the coast east of Port Hedland yesterday, to little effect.

Oil producers Santos Ltd and Woodside Petroleum Ltd expect to have their offshore platforms in Western Australia back in production by Saturday after precautionary stoppages.

Santos its floating production facility was returning to the Mutineer-Exeter oil field in the Carnarvon Basin to reconnect and resume production by tomorrow at the latest. Woodside's Legendre oil project is expected to resume production by Saturday.

BHP said it had already reopened its Nelson Point facility at Port Hedland.

The deep low over WA's interior produced unseasonally heavy rainfall over the southern Goldfields and western Eucla, with localised flooding. Additional scattered rainfall of 10 to 20mm, with isolated heavier falls, is forecast for the area this afternoon and overnight.

The 9am rainfall reports include:

Balladonia 134mm
Laverton 90mm
Lorna Glen 90mm
Warburton 64mm
Welcome Downs 57mm
Norseman 47mm
Leinster Airport 32mm

Below is a warning from the Bureau of Meteorology website:

FESA advises people and communities to be aware that flooding is possible and be prepared to relocate equipment and livestock.
Watch water levels. Travellers need to be aware that road conditions may be adversely affected and travel plans may need to be
reconsidered. Do not drive into water of unknown depth and velocity.

The next warning will be issued at about 5 pm on Thursday, 4th of January 2007.