A new project designed to incorporate local knowledge into the decision-making process on minesite rehabilitation has recently commenced in Central Queensland.

The Australian Coal Association Research Program (ACARP) is funding research designed to develop a procedure for the evaluation of mine rehabilitation based on visual inspection by a panel of stakeholders.

The project, which is being led by The Minserve Group with support from Central Queensland University (CQU), aims to capture local knowledge and experience to decide whether rehabilitation is meeting objectives.

CQU’s Stewart Lockie and Christine Hanley are participating in the project, along with Australian National University’s Neil Lazarow who has been employed by CQU as a consultant.

Anglo Coal (Capcoal Management) Pty Ltd is cooperating with the project by making German Creek Mine available as a test case.

Project Manager, Dr Sue Henderson says: “a one of the difficulties in progressing rehabilitation is that, while we recognise most of the factors that contribute to better quality outcomes, we don’t fully appreciate how they combine to determine whether a particular area of rehabilitation has achieved an acceptable standard".

“The advice of a panel of individuals with suitable experience and expertise, in addition to measurement of aspects that cannot be evaluated by visual inspection, will provide a more relevant assessment of particular rehabilitation efforts,” she said.

If successful, the project will not only assist Queensland coal mines in progressive sign-off of rehabilitation, it will enable the mines to take better account of community expectations when carrying out the rehabilitation.

An initial public meeting will be held from 8:30am-Noon on Thursday, October 12, to inform the public of the project in more detail and to discuss issues for the development of indicators to assess rehabilitation.

Out of this first meeting an inspection panel of 6 or 7 members will be self-selected. The panel will be charged with the task of finalising the indicators, developing a ranking system for the assessment and assisting with the assessment process.

The meeting will take place at the German Creek Surface Operations Mine site and at CQU Rockhampton using videoconferencing.

To register your interest in attending the meeting, please contact Christine Hanley at CQU on (07) 49 306 335 or email c.hanley@cqu.edu.au .