Abstract: Mining at the Mt Leyshon Gold Mine in semi-arid north Queensland stopped in 2002. Newmont Australia has recently initiated a thorough post-closure water management study of the site by revisiting the existing information and conducting new water-related investigations. The focus of this paper. which is the first publication on post-closure environmental management of the site. is an overview of the site water quality in view of the sources and spatial distribution of polluted mine water, and also the performance of cover systems in controlling water flux though mine wastes.