A guide to leading practice sustainable development in mining

Closure
A whole of mine life process which typically culminates in tenement relinquishment. It
includes decommissioning and rehabilitation.
Coarse (coal) reject
The coarse fraction of the mineral matter removed from run-of-mine coal by washing.
Co-disposal
The combined disposal of coarse and fine-grained mine wastes, such as the pumped codisposal
of coal washery wastes.
Community
There are many ways to define ‘community’. In mining industry terms, community is
generally applied to the inhabitants of immediate and surrounding areas who are affected by
a company’s activities. ‘Local community’ usually indicates a community in which operations
are located and may include Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.
Community engagement
Deliberate and strategic liaison with communities and individuals that reside in close
proximity to, and are potentially affected by, mining activity. Effective engagement typically
involves identifying and prioritising stakeholders, conducting dialogue to understand their
interest in a an issue and any concerns they may have, exploring with them ways to address
these issues, and providing feedback on actions taken.
Community impact
Detrimental harm to the neighbouring community.
Completion criteria
An agreed standard or level of performance which demonstrates successful closure of the
site.
Consolidation
The expulsion of water from settled slurry.
Consultation
The act of providing information or advice on, and seeking responses to, an actual or
proposed event, activity or process.
Containment wall
A structure providing outer encapsulation for tailings.
Contaminated site
A site at which hazardous substances occur at concentrations above background levels and
where assessment shows it poses, or is likely to pose, an immediate or long-term hazard to
human health or the environment.
Country
When used in the context ‘living on country‘ or ‘speaking for country’ refers to the area
of Australia that a particular person or group of Indigenous people have a traditional
connection and a sense of belonging to.
184 LEADING PRACTICE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR THE MINING INDUSTRY