Progressive Rehabilitation
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An open pit site in need of rehabilitation (NSW Mining, 2012)
By progressively rehabilitating the site as soon as the areas are available, rather than waiting until the closure of the mine, there are a number of benefits. One of these is the opportunity to establish vegetation early, which in turn will assist in reducing the dust levels at the site (KCGM, 2009). Progressively rehabilitating a site means that there will be a significant reduction in the amount of rehabilitation required once the site is closed.
Implementation
Progressive rehabilitation can begin with sites for waste rock dumps and residue storage facilities once these are longer required (KCGM, 2009). To rehabilitate these areas, as other open pit mine sites have done, the existing natural environment is studied to ensure that only suitable vegetation is planted, giving it the best possible opportunity to become re-established in the long term (KCGM, 2009).
While there are only certain areas that are able to be progressively rehabilitated, with some areas only being able to be rehabilitated once the mine has closed, this strategy give the best opportunity for the revegetation of the area to be correctly done, and last into the future.
Progressive rehabilitation comes in other forms too. One example can be seen in the Super Pit in Kalgoorlie. In the creation of a buffer area between the mine and the city, this land was rehabilitated, leading to 210 000 trees being planted and 730 ha of land being rehabilitated (KCGM*, 2009). This is an example of how EMM Resources can implement a progressive rehabilitation program, as this can be done early on in the life of the mine, and be planned from the moment of the site being selected.
In progressively rehabilitating, the process can start as early as the exploration and feasibility stages by characterising the soils and materials. This can ensure that the materials used are suitable for use in both construction and rehabilitation, and they won’t have a negative effect on revegetation attempts (Australian Centre for Sustainable Mining Practices, 2011).Characterisationcontinues into considering the materials to be used to construct the required facilities, and to use ‘benign’ materials which won’t adversely affect rehabilitation efforts (Australian Centre for Sustainable Mining Practices, 2011).
While there are only certain areas that are able to be progressively rehabilitated, with some areas only being able to be rehabilitated once the mine has closed, this strategy give the best opportunity for the revegetation of the area to be correctly done, and last into the future.
Progressive rehabilitation comes in other forms too. One example can be seen in the Super Pit in Kalgoorlie. In the creation of a buffer area between the mine and the city, this land was rehabilitated, leading to 210 000 trees being planted and 730 ha of land being rehabilitated (KCGM*, 2009). This is an example of how EMM Resources can implement a progressive rehabilitation program, as this can be done early on in the life of the mine, and be planned from the moment of the site being selected.
In progressively rehabilitating, the process can start as early as the exploration and feasibility stages by characterising the soils and materials. This can ensure that the materials used are suitable for use in both construction and rehabilitation, and they won’t have a negative effect on revegetation attempts (Australian Centre for Sustainable Mining Practices, 2011).Characterisationcontinues into considering the materials to be used to construct the required facilities, and to use ‘benign’ materials which won’t adversely affect rehabilitation efforts (Australian Centre for Sustainable Mining Practices, 2011).
Evaluation
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A rehabilitated site 15 years on (Sibelco Australia, 2011)
In evaluating the effectiveness of progressive rehabilitation, the sites undergoing rehabilitation are to be thoroughly researched prior to the commencement of the program, and then constantly monitored to ensure that the plant communities are re-establishing themselves. This constant monitoring should take place every 1-2 months to ensure that any problems are addressed quickly.
Benchmarking will occur to measure the success, and include the number of species growing, the health of these species, any new/different species found, as well as the health and ph of the soils, amongst others. The aesthetics of the rehabilitation sites will also be considered, although this is more of an intangible and subjective way to measure the success of the strategy.
Following the successful re-establishment of vegetation, recommendations on improvements to be made to the methods are to be made and taken on board.
Benchmarking will occur to measure the success, and include the number of species growing, the health of these species, any new/different species found, as well as the health and ph of the soils, amongst others. The aesthetics of the rehabilitation sites will also be considered, although this is more of an intangible and subjective way to measure the success of the strategy.
Following the successful re-establishment of vegetation, recommendations on improvements to be made to the methods are to be made and taken on board.
References
Australian Centre for Sustainable Mining Practices. (2011). A
Guide to Leading Practice Sustainable Development in Mining. Retrieved May
5, 2013, from http://www.ret.gov.au/resources/documents/lpsdp/guidelpsd.pdf
KCGM. (2009). Progressive Rehabilitation. Retrieved May 14, 2013, from The Super Pit: http://www.superpit.com.au/Environment/Rehabilitation/ProgressiveRehabilitation/tabid/138/Default.aspx
KCGM*. (2009). Creating a Green Belt. Retrieved May 14, 2013, from The Super Pit: http://www.superpit.com.au/Environment/Rehabilitation/CreatingaGreenBelt/tabid/139/Default.aspx
NSW Mining. (2012). Progressive rehabilitation for a quality end result. Retrieved May 9, 2013, from
http://www.worldclassminers.com.au/news/environment/Progressive-rehabilitation-for-a-quick-end-result
Sibelco Australia. (2011). Sustainable Stradbroke. Retrieved May 19, 2013, from
http://www.sustainablestradbroke.com.au/images/ibis_2010.jpg
KCGM. (2009). Progressive Rehabilitation. Retrieved May 14, 2013, from The Super Pit: http://www.superpit.com.au/Environment/Rehabilitation/ProgressiveRehabilitation/tabid/138/Default.aspx
KCGM*. (2009). Creating a Green Belt. Retrieved May 14, 2013, from The Super Pit: http://www.superpit.com.au/Environment/Rehabilitation/CreatingaGreenBelt/tabid/139/Default.aspx
NSW Mining. (2012). Progressive rehabilitation for a quality end result. Retrieved May 9, 2013, from
http://www.worldclassminers.com.au/news/environment/Progressive-rehabilitation-for-a-quick-end-result
Sibelco Australia. (2011). Sustainable Stradbroke. Retrieved May 19, 2013, from
http://www.sustainablestradbroke.com.au/images/ibis_2010.jpg