Located in a remote, semi-arid region, the Challenger mining lease site is fenced off to prevent stock entry and will eventually be returned to pastoral use.

In the meantime, the comprehensive, integrated environmental management plan it has established for Challenger is continually upgraded.

The plan includes routine monitoring to establish baseline information and to measure any impacts from the operation.

Throughout the Challenger site, a water monitoring program is in place and a national pollutant inventory database is maintained, to accurately calculate Challenger emissions.

Annual flora and fauna surveys are conducted to demonstrate responsible care of areas not disturbed by mining activities and Dominion commissions independent reviews to assess the effectiveness of rehabilitation activities and final mine closure work.

Challenger continually assesses its waste practices and has recently boosted the capacity of its tailings storage area to facilitate best practice tailings accommodation for a further two years of production.

Trials are also continuing to establish an optimal thickness and composition of final amouring of waste rock.