Exploring biophysical limitations and post-mining native ecosystem rehabilitation outcomes in Queensland

Abstract

In Queensland, Australia, the objective of mine rehabilitation is for land disturbed by mining to attain a ‘stable condition’, which is defined as land that is, safe, stable, non-polluting and able to sustain a post-mining land use (PMLU). Mining companies need to articulate achievable and measurable rehabilitation milestones and milestone criteria to demonstrate progress towards these rehabilitation objectives via Progressive Rehabilitation and Closure (PRC) plans. A commonly proposed PMLU is native ecosystem, though there is not a state-wide definition of ‘native ecosystem’ for the purposes of rehabilitation, and existing rehabilitation milestone criteria for this very broad PMLU vary considerably between sites. It is in this context that the Office of the Queensland Mine Rehabilitation Commissioner is undertaking research to define and understand the drivers for various native ecosystem rehabilitation outcomes and describe best practice with respect to planning for and evaluating the success of native ecosystem PMLUs in Queensland.