Mount Isa City Council’s chief executive Emilio Cianetti said the unrecorded battery dump site was unknown to the council when it leased a paddock to a cattle owner. 

“(The cattle) showed signs of distress, I believe one or two of the cattle actually perished as a result of it,” Mr Cianetti said.  

“We found lead acid batteries had come to the surface where cattle with the drought were digging these batteries up and because of the salts in the batteries they were chewing on the batteries,” Mr Cianetti said. 

It’s unclear how old the dump is but it may have existed during World War II, Mr Cianetti said. 

He estimates 10 cattle have been affected and quarantined by the Department of Primary Industry but was waiting for further information. 

“Our first reaction was to get the cattle out of that site, the Department of Primary Industry are involved with monitoring the cattle and making sure they are tested for lead content,” he said.

The cattle cannot be sold or moved on until tests clear them. 

Council needs to learn if the batteries can be stored at the Mount Isa dump in an enclosed space. 

Camooweal based councillor Anne Seymour learned of the problem through the cattle owner who leased the property and then brought it up in a closed council meeting. 

“As soon as we found out we acknowledged it,

“Our responsibility is to find a solution,” she said.   

“The trouble is with drought cattle will scavenge anything unfortunately.

“They’re licking and licking trying to get something from the dirt, and come across these batteries,” Cr Seymour said.