All the latest in NSW mine rehabilitation and environment news

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15 September 2020

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The inaugural bi-annual exploration and mining rehabilitation report for January to June 2020 has been released to provide information about our regulatory activities under the Mining Act.

During the reporting period compliance priorities included tailings management, progressive rehabilitation and subsidence management.

Compliance and enforcement actions resulted in the cancellation of two mining leases and one prosecution.

A focus on tailings storage facilities

In 2018 we initiated a compliance priority project to establish a consistent approach to regulating tailings storage facilities across both the coal and metalliferous mining sectors. The program aimed to ensure that title holders and mine operators were aware of their obligations, and to promote leading practice tailings storage facility management.

The project involved collaborating with other agencies including Dam Safety NSW, Environment Protection Authority and the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment. Professor David Williams from the University of Queensland, a leading expert in tailings management, was engaged to provide technical advice.

Read the full compliance priority outcomes report

Prosecutions commenced against Narrabri Coal

We have commenced prosecution proceedings against Narrabri Coal Pty Ltd and Narrabri Coal Operations Pty Ltd in the NSW Land and Environment Court for alleged breaches of the state’s mining laws.

The matters relate to Exploration Licence EL6243, which forms part of Whitehaven Coal’s Narrabri operations located 24 km northwest of Boggabri.

We routinely undertake compliance audits of mining operations and exploration activities to assess whether titleholders are meeting their compliance requirements and to identify opportunities for improvement.

Our most recent compliance audit reports can be viewed below.

EL8590 Kiola Exploration Drilling Program, Emmerson Resources Pty Ltd

Boggabri Coal Mine, Boggabri Coal Pty Ltd

Subsidence management, Tahmoor Colliery, Tahmoor Coal Pty Ltd

EL7223 Exploration Drilling Program, Shenhua Watermark Coal Pty Ltd

East Pit at Ulan Coal Mine rehabilitated

A detailed assessment, including consultation with Ulan Coal Mine and site inspections, determined that rehabilitation works on part of the Ulan Coal Mine near Mudgee has been successfully completed. The domain where rehabilitation has been completed comprises 50.4 hectares within the former open cut mining area known as East Pit Area 2 (EPA2). Rehabilitation has been undertaken progressively at EPA2 since the early 1980s.

The approved rehabilitation objectives include establishing a safe, stable, self-sustaining and non-polluting landform that is free-draining and a final land use that consists of grassland, shrubs and native trees.

Read the full rehabilitation information release

Part of Horsely Park Quarry rehabilitated

Aerial photo comparing the quarry in 2018 and 2020

Austral Brick Co Pty Ltd has successfully completed rehabilitation works to part of the Horsley Park (Plant 23) Quarry in western Sydney, satisfactorily meeting approved rehabilitation objectives and completion criteria.

The site where rehabilitation has been completed is within the western part of this mining lease, with the remaining area of the lease occupied by the existing quarry operations.

The site comprises around 11 hectares within the south western corner of the quarry, and until recently, was used for the stockpiling of materials extracted from the quarry. Rehabilitation has been undertaken progressively on the site since about 2018 as part of a redevelopment associated with the Oakdale East Industrial Estate. The approved industrial development includes several new warehouses and a masonry plant on either side of a new estate cul-de-sac.

Read the full rehabilitation information release

Forms moving online

We are working to move our forms, relevant to the Mining Act 1992, online. The online form ‘Statement of compliance, environmental performance and financial history’ is now available on the Portal.

If you are not a current holder of a mining or exploration title (e.g. you are applying for an exploration licence, ELA), contact us on 1300 814 609 (option 2, then 5) and we will arrange access to the Portal.

Throughout 2020, we will be redesigning our application forms into smart online forms. It is envisioned that by 2021, all our processes will be accessible via the Portal, thus removing the need for hard copy/paper forms. Paper based forms can still be obtained by contacting us on 1300 814 609 (option 2, then 5) or downloading them via the forms page on our website.