The Queensland government announced the purchase of a further five properties in Collingwood Park, bringing the total number of properties offered to purchase to 29.

“It is important to note the Queensland government is not liable for mine subsidence in Collingwood Park, but it is providing this assistance package because it is the right thing to do,” Queensland Mines Minister Stephen Robertson said.

The government has allocated $15.6 million for its response to the subsidence.

The mines and energy department, with the assistance of CSIRO mine subsidence experts, has started further detailed geotechnical studies to determine the technical and economic viability of stabilising the undermined areas of the Westfalen No. 3 and New Redbank collieries through back-filling.

Seismic survey work was conducted in October 2009 by seismic and mining experts from Curtin University and CSIRO.

A drilling program to verify the mine plans, determine the current stability and height of workings, and assess the groundwater and mine atmosphere conditions has recently been completed.

Work to install and calibrate monitoring equipment in some of the drillholes has started.

CSIRO will use data from those studies to inform the feasibility study, and the department will report back to the community once this has been finalised.

The government has also put in place programs to help underpin property values and the general amenity and liveability of Collingwood Park in the long term.

“This includes enshrining in legislation a lifetime guarantee to repair – or purchase where uneconomical to repair – any existing property in Collingwood Park damaged as a result of mine subsidence,” Robertson said.

“Outside of properties already identified for purchase, there are up to 30 properties with possible mine subsidence-related damage.”

Repairs are complete on 16 of those properties, and underpinning work is being finalised on a further two properties.