Mine rehabilitation for aquatic ecology is an intensely complicated space

With the release of the Queensland Mine Rehabilitation Commissioner technical paper on Aquatic ecosystem in post mining landscapes and subsequent implications for best practices, its timing arrives at a crucial moment, as the industry begins to struggle with how effective rehabilitation on the aquatic systems can be achieved.

Achieving positive outcomes on sites with complex histories of industrial use, modification, and sometimes abuse is far from straightforward. The challenges are significant, often complicating and limiting rehabilitation options. These documents serve as a foundational resource, outlining essential considerations and starting points for effective strategies.

In an ideal situation, all objectives such as rehabilitation, improved outcomes, and protection would be achievable, however in reality, they all may not be possible. Sometimes it’s a process of looking outside the box to see what improvements can be made that will create good outcomes and in the longer-term, feed back into protecting the aquatic system.  Collaborating closely with other technical specialists’ immersed in the detail allows for innovative solutions and achieving required objectives.

When regulators clearly define their specific objectives, especially where there are multiple locations which will eventually undergo rehabilitation, they provide a clear and transparent expectation of the standard required. This in turn sets the groundwork and expectation for achieving these objectives. This will help ensure that each site is held to the same level of standards and provide a wider catchment improvement and protection over time.

At EMM, we specialise in comprehensive habitat assessments, integrated discipline monitoring, modelling and management services across all project stages. Our team collaborates to set clear compliance objectives and often goes beyond, aiming for environmental protection and restoration as foundational goals for achieving excellence.

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Connect with Andrea

Andrea McPherson
Associate Ecologist
amcpherson@emmconsulting.com.au         
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