Helpem Fren with EOD in the mines

From Lt Chris Woods in the Solomon Islands

Sappers, Explosive Detection Dogs (EDD) and members of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Unit from the Royal Solomon Islands Police scoured the Gold Ridge mine near Honiara for hazardous chemicals and abandoned explosives recently.

Gold Ridge was a productive gold mine until the ethnic tension on Guadalcanal forced the owners to close in 1999.
Since then the plant and machinery has been vandalised and the tanks used to store chemicals have become unsafe.

Engineers and police from the Op Helpem Fren Combined task Force (CTF) along with three sections from 2RAR’s C Coy and another section of Tongan soldiers made the agonisingly slow journey up into the hills behind Honiara to the mine.

The gold mine was only 26km from the combined Police and Military HQ, however, the poor state of the island’s roads reduced the travelling speed to about 15km per hour.

On arrival at the mine site the infantry deployed to secure the perimeter and the police blocked the access road to deny the northern and southern approaches to the area.

Lt John Eccleston, 8 Pl, said the Australian and Tongan soldiers worked well together.

“This was the first operational mission of Op Helpem Fren and the first operation for most of the soldiers including the Tongans,” he said.

The Gold Ridge mine was in derelict condition.

The earthmoving equipment had been stripped and left to rust. The bulk chemical tanks were in better condition, but one holding Sodium Hypochloride had begun to leak.

Piles of chemical powder bags had also been weather damaged and the ground under them was covered in a toxic gel.

Lt Rob Lang, 3 CER, said most of the chemicals seem to be stable at this point.

“We will be putting forward a plan to conduct a further chemical recce,” he said.

“From there we can determine the best course of action to deal with the mine situation.”

Some explosive material was also recovered, the biggest find being a 2kg pack of power gel used for blasting.
Spr Graham Ellis and his partner Explosive Detection Dog ‘Bailey’ worked the ground in search of hazardous material.
The hulks of machinery littering the site created lots of nooks and crevasses for Bailey to sniff around. However, only some partly used sacs of stable explosives were uncovered.

Similar devastation was found at the mine’s accommodation area a short distance away.

Lt Eccleston said the living area had also been ransacked.

“The place looked like it had been hit by a cyclone.

“Everything was gone, panelling, air-conditioners, the lot.

“Only the frames were left.

“It’s a shame, this is such a beautiful country. The untouched jungle and mist shrouded mountains look like something out of Jurassic Park.”

The Police and Military components of Op Helpem Fren are important elements of the regional assistance mission that is working toward the restoration of law and order.

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