What was once a deep hole left behind by coal mining is now a destination for swimming, boating, camping and water sports.
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was → leave → swimming
Lake Kepwari, near Collie in Western Australia, began as the Western 5B mine void at a former open-cut coal operation.
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Kepwari → begin → operation
After the mine closed in 1997, the site was progressively transformed into an artificial lake.
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site → close → lake
Over time, water filled the void, creating a large recreational water body that eventually became part of efforts to diversify Collie’s tourism opportunities.
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that → fill → opportunities
By late 2020, Lake Kepwari had opened to visitors with new infrastructure designed to turn the former mine site into a water-based recreation hub, according to the Western Australian Government.
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Kepwari → open → Government
From coal mine to artificial lake
Lake Kepwari is located about 13 kilometres southeast of the Collie townsite and covers about 103 hectares.
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Kepwari → locate → hectares
The Western Australian Government’s Upper Collie Water Management Plan issue-scoping report identifies it as an artificial lake created from the Western 5B mine void.
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report → scope → void
The former Wesfarmers Premier Coal mine site closed in 1997.
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site → close → 1997
The transformation was part of a broader approach to rehabilitating former mine areas in the Collie region.
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transformation → rehabilitate → region
Open-cut coal mining had created numerous large voids across the Collie Coal Basin.
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mining → create → Basin
As mining ceased, some of these depressions filled with water and became mine lakes.
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some → cease → water
The government report noted that several former mine voids, including Lake Kepwari, Stockton Lake and Black Diamond A, had already become or were being developed as recreational lakes.
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voids → note → lakes
Lake Kepwari was planned for uses that were very different from its industrial past.
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that → plan → past
These included picnicking, camping and water sports such as water skiing.
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These → include → skiing
The development was guided by the South West Development Commission and the Lake Kepwari Working Group, which included government, industry, local community and recreation representatives.
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which → guide → representatives
How the mine void filled with water
Filling such a large former mine void was not simply a matter of waiting for rain.
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Filling → fill → rain
The Western Australian Government reported in 2008 that Wesfarmers Premier Coal had rehabilitated the mining void and obtained a licence from the Department of Water to divert water from the Collie River South Branch to help fill the lake.
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Coal → report → lake
The government statement said Lake Kepwari held about 30 gigalitres of water, equivalent to about 30 billion litres.
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Kepwari → say → litres
It described the lake as almost two kilometres long, about one kilometre wide and up to 70 metres deep.
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It → describe → lake
The earlier water-management report also noted that the lake could require supplementation while groundwater levels in the surrounding Collie Coal Basin recovered.
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levels → note → Basin
Water quality presented another challenge during the development phase.
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quality → present → phase
Stakeholders raised concerns about acidity in the lake, with reduced acidity identified as necessary before the site could safely operate as a public recreation venue.
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site → raise → venue
These issues illustrate one of the challenges involved in converting a former mine into a recreational lake.
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issues → illustrate → lake
Creating a large body of water is only part of the process; its chemistry, stability, access and surrounding infrastructure also have to be considered before people can safely use it.
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people → create → it
A new role for a former mining landscape
The idea behind Lake Kepwari was not limited to rehabilitating a mine site.
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idea → limit → site
It was also connected to the changing recreational and tourism landscape around Collie.
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It → connect → Collie
The 2007 government water-management report identified Lake Kepwari as a feature with significant social value.
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report → identify → value
Stakeholders saw potential in the site for recreation and tourism, particularly water skiing.
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Stakeholders → see → recreation
The report noted that many participants viewed the development of the lake as an innovative way of creating a water-based recreation venue from an old mine void.
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participants → note → void
That vision eventually became part of a larger investment in Collie’s parks, forests and outdoor recreation facilities.
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vision → become → parks
In 2017, the Western Australian Government committed $23.3 million to infrastructure for parks and forests in the Collie region, including $5.2 million for new campgrounds and boating facilities at Lake Kepwari.
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Government → commit → Kepwari
Opening as a recreation destination
The transformation reached a major milestone in late 2020.
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transformation → open → 2020
According to the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Lake Kepwari opened for visitors with facilities including camping areas, a boat ramp, floating jetty, picnic shelters and parking.
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Kepwari → accord → areas
The lake now offers activities including swimming, boating, water skiing, camping and picnicking.
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lake → offer → swimming
Its development has given a former industrial landscape a completely different purpose, while adding another attraction to the Collie region’s growing outdoor recreation offering.
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development → give → offering
From industrial void to tourism asset
Lake Kepwari represents a striking example of how former mining landscapes can be repurposed after extraction ends.
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extraction → represent → example
The site did not simply disappear when coal mining stopped; instead, the mine void became the foundation for a new water landscape.
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void → disappear → landscape
Its transformation also reflects a broader challenge facing resource-dependent communities.
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transformation → reflect → communities
As mining landscapes change, former industrial sites can potentially take on new roles in recreation, tourism and community life.
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sites → change → recreation
In Collie, Lake Kepwari became one part of that transition.
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Kepwari → become → transition
…and 2 more, not listed.
The Aporia
