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A guide to leading practice sustainable development in mining

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An example of <strong>lead<strong>in</strong>g</strong> <strong>practice</strong> <strong>in</strong> m<strong>in</strong>e rehabilitation particularly regard<strong>in</strong>g flora and<br />

fauna management is the Mt Owen coal m<strong>in</strong>e, an open-pit coal m<strong>in</strong>e located <strong>in</strong> the<br />

Hunter Valley of New South Wales. Mt Owen is owned by Xstrata Mt Owen (XMO), a<br />

100% owned subsidiary of Xstrata Coal. The m<strong>in</strong>e is operated by Thiess Pty Limited<br />

under a partner<strong>in</strong>g agreement with XMO and is approved <strong>to</strong> produce up <strong>to</strong> 10 million<br />

<strong>to</strong>nnes of run-of-m<strong>in</strong>e coal per annum for the export market until December 2025.<br />

The key components of the Mt Owen flora and fauna management program <strong>in</strong>clude:<br />

establishment and management of biodiversity<br />

conservation areas <strong>to</strong> offset m<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g impacts.<br />

progressive rehabilitation of disturbed areas <strong>to</strong> native woodland.<br />

implementation of specialised flora and fauna management techniques.<br />

comprehensive flora and fauna moni<strong>to</strong>r<strong>in</strong>g program.<br />

on-go<strong>in</strong>g program of native forest res<strong>to</strong>ration research <strong>in</strong> conjunction with<br />

the University of Newcastle’s Centre for Susta<strong>in</strong>able Ecosystem Res<strong>to</strong>ration.<br />

Mt Owen’s flora and fauna management program provides protection for establish<strong>in</strong>g<br />

woodland communities <strong>in</strong> rehabilitation areas and <strong>in</strong> adjo<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g m<strong>in</strong>e-owned buffer<br />

land. Conservation areas adjo<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g m<strong>in</strong>e rehabilitation areas are also be<strong>in</strong>g expanded<br />

and enhanced through proactive <strong>in</strong>tervention and the res<strong>to</strong>ration of scattered<br />

woodland remnants and pasture areas <strong>to</strong> provide similar vegetation communities<br />

and opportunities for movement of flora and fauna <strong>in</strong><strong>to</strong> rehabilitation areas.<br />

The short-term aim is <strong>to</strong> conserve exist<strong>in</strong>g flora and fauna <strong>in</strong> conservation areas<br />

through effective management, while establish<strong>in</strong>g new areas that will provide a selfsusta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g<br />

system <strong>in</strong> the long term. The long-term aim is <strong>to</strong> provide a self-susta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g<br />

flora and fauna conservation reserve with sufficient size <strong>to</strong> provide the necessary<br />

diversity, while provid<strong>in</strong>g corridor l<strong>in</strong>kages <strong>to</strong> the larger vision for <strong>in</strong>tegrated<br />

landscapes <strong>in</strong> the Hunter Valley (see LP Rehabilitation p.25).<br />

Figure 5.25 – Flora and fauna moni<strong>to</strong>r<strong>in</strong>g, Mt Owen<br />

162 LEADING PRACTICE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR THE MINING INDUSTRY

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