Bengalla Mining Company Pty Limited - Rio Tinto Coal Australia

Rehabilitation & Landscape
Management Plan
5.0 Mine Closure Plan
As discussed in Section 1.3, this RLMP provides a preliminary conceptual Mine Closure
Plan. A detailed Mine Closure Plan will be developed at least five years prior to mine
closure, however, preliminary design criteria and environmental management techniques
for mine closure are provided below utilising available information.
5.1 Objectives
The key objective of site rehabilitation is to achieve an optimum post-mining land
capability suitable for supporting a combination of grazing and native habitat land use.
Detailed rehabilitation objectives and completion criteria, consistent with these
post-mining land use objectives are listed in Table 4.
5.2 Post-Mining Land Use Options
Investigations have been undertaken in relation to a number of post-mining land use
options within the DA Boundary (GSSE, 2004). Extensive face-to-face consultation was
undertaken with over 60 near neighbours, regulators and community representatives
during preparation of the Bengalla SEE. When stakeholders were asked during this
consultation the majority stated that they would prefer a more natural looking landform
with dense plantings of native trees and shrubs. This feedback was considered in the
current selection of the conceptual post-mining land use option.
The investigations were undertaken to determine feasible land uses on rehabilitated land
considering land slope, class, water requirements and soil types. The potential land uses
that were investigated included: cattle grazing, viticulture, industrial estates, commercial
forestry, and other commercial/community enterprises. These potential land uses were
then evaluated based on selection criteria such as:
• Community and stakeholder acceptance;
• Health and safety considerations;
• Potential environmental impacts;
• Regulatory requirements and legal liability; and
• Contribution to the local economy and employment.
Although viticulture was assessed and determined to substantially assist in long-term
final landform stability and minimise noise, dust and odour impacts on near neighbours,
viticulture as a post-land use option was considered to be an incompatible broad
community land use which would only moderately satisfy legal and regulatory
requirements. The investigations found that the physical and chemical characteristics of
the shaped and rehabilitated overburden would be incompatible with the needs of
Ref: 071025 bmc rehabilitation & landscape mp Page 20