Nothing's lived in the trickle and flow for the past four years since the bright, aqua discolouration, believed to be caused by a leakage of copper precipitate from the abandoned Mount Oxide Mine, appeared on Chidna Station.

Despite government promises, some assistance, and a worsening problem, the landholder is at his wits end.

It was four years ago the problem exacerbated, and the poisoned water entered The Caves and Twibles creeks, which flow into Oxide Creek, to Gun Powder Creek, then through to the Leichhardt River and eventually into the Gulf.

It was then Mr Spreadborough made his first contact with the State Government hoping the contaminant would be removed so it would no longer potentially harm his cattle and wildlife.

"The PH level in the creek at the moment is 2.8," Mr Spreadborough said.

"That's almost the same as battery acid."

Despite several visits by the Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) and the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI), the flow of toxic leachate has not been plugged, and contamination continues each wet season.

He said DEEDI and DERM meet with him every three months, but the main issue was the cost to have the problem fixed - thought to be tens of millions of dollars.

"The problem has the potential to affect a hell of a lot of country if the situation gets any worse, and the more water we receive from rain in the wet season, the further the toxic water spreads," Mr Spreadborough said yesterday.

"I just want the creeks cleaned up and fixed so the copper from the old mine stops flowing into the creeks."

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