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A guide to leading practice sustainable development in mining

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Figure 5.7 – Pasture and shelter trees on rehabilitated m<strong>in</strong>e spoil at the Gregory m<strong>in</strong>e<br />

The rehabilitation options selected for the site need <strong>to</strong> be compatible and ideally<br />

complementary with surround<strong>in</strong>g land uses. Particular attention should be given<br />

<strong>to</strong> any opportunities <strong>to</strong> engage <strong>in</strong> or provide connect<strong>in</strong>g habitat between remnant<br />

vegetation patches. There is also the opportunity <strong>to</strong> establish a broader regional<br />

rehabilitation plan, which takes <strong>in</strong><strong>to</strong> account the surround<strong>in</strong>g land-use activities. The<br />

shar<strong>in</strong>g of expertise and the coord<strong>in</strong>ation of key activities can result <strong>in</strong> a significantly<br />

<strong>in</strong>creased community benefit.<br />

Several jurisdictions engage <strong>in</strong> landscape-level biodiversity plann<strong>in</strong>g, such as the<br />

regional biodiversity plans be<strong>in</strong>g implemented <strong>in</strong> New South Wales. Plann<strong>in</strong>g at this<br />

level is an effective way <strong>to</strong> manage issues such as wildlife corridors, determ<strong>in</strong>ation<br />

of environmental water allocations and the management of threatened species and<br />

ecological communities dur<strong>in</strong>g the assessment and approvals process.<br />

Establishment of a closure committee/advisory group<br />

The establishment of a consultative closure committee, <strong>in</strong>tegrated <strong>in</strong><strong>to</strong> an overall<br />

stakeholder engagement strategy, can be a useful forum <strong>in</strong> which long-term objectives<br />

can be discussed with a wide range of stakeholders and community representatives.<br />

By <strong>in</strong>volv<strong>in</strong>g people with a particular <strong>in</strong>terest <strong>in</strong> closure issues early <strong>in</strong> the plann<strong>in</strong>g<br />

processes, operations can <strong>in</strong>corporate community <strong>in</strong>put <strong>in</strong><strong>to</strong> the overall site plans.<br />

These forums have shown <strong>to</strong> be a powerful means of engag<strong>in</strong>g stakeholders and<br />

demonstrat<strong>in</strong>g <strong>to</strong> regula<strong>to</strong>rs that there is community support and <strong>in</strong>put <strong>in</strong><strong>to</strong> the<br />

overall plan. The closure committee can also have a formal role <strong>in</strong> the sign-off<br />

process. An example is the Beenup m<strong>in</strong>e site located <strong>in</strong> the South-West of Western<br />

Australia which closed <strong>in</strong> 1999 leav<strong>in</strong>g a large expanse of deep water, a number of<br />

temporary and permanent dams and s<strong>to</strong>ckpiles conta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g m<strong>in</strong>e waste consist<strong>in</strong>g of<br />

cleaned sand, f<strong>in</strong>e clay and vary<strong>in</strong>g levels of pyritic m<strong>in</strong>eral.<br />

A GUIDE TO LEADING PRACTICE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN MINING 139

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