Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation is an integral component in the lifecycle of a mine. The mining industry in NSW takes its environmental responsibilities very seriously and works diligently to ensure the land we use is rehabilitated to provide beneficial outcomes or uses after mining is complete.

Prior to the commencement of any mining operations, mining companies work with the community and the government to plan the rehabilitation of the mines. These plans determine the post-mining use of the land.

Land disturbed by mining activity is progressively rehabilitated throughout operations with the objective of returning the resulting landform to a safe and stable condition and in a manner consistent with the agreed final land uses.

For example, Glencore’s Mangoola Mine in the Upper Hunter is progressively restoring the mined land to shrubby and open woodland, riparian forest, shrubland and native grassland, consistent with the surrounding landscape. 

Areas of land known as biodiversity offset sites are also established by the industry to offset impacts on native vegetation and species at a significantly higher rate than the land disturbed.

Mining companies are responsible for the full cost and implementation of rehabilitation across NSW.

Each mine is required to lodge a rehabilitation security deposit with the NSW Government to cover estimated rehabilitation costs in the unlikely event that the company cannot fulfil its rehabilitation obligations. The surety ensures that these costs will not be borne by the NSW government or taxpayers. Deposits are only returned to the miner when the NSW government is satisfied the rehabilitation has met the criteria for completion. Over $3.68 billion is currently held in security deposits for this purpose.

There are a number of stages in the life cycle of a mining operation. Closure and relinquishment come after mining is finished and involves the decommissioning of mining equipment and the relinquishment of the mining lease back to the government when the operation has delivered the agreed rehabilitation outcomes. These legal obligations include returning the land to the approved land use in accordance with the development consent for the mine.

Mines may be temporarily placed in care and maintenance, with the potential to recommence mining at a later date. Mining companies remain responsible for the site, managing and monitoring the mine throughout this phase, even though production has ceased.

A mine void is a mined area, typically a pit, that remains as a residual depressed landform feature after rehabilitation of a mine is complete. A void may take various forms ranging from a shallow depression in the rehabilitated landscape to a landform feature that is more reflective of the mine pit at the end of mining.

All matters regarding rehabilitation (including the need for a residual mine void) are carefully considered early in the design and planning process, prior to commencing operations, as part of a rigorous and comprehensive assessment process managed by the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure.

The current regulatory and approval process requires that any voids are minimised and incorporated into the local landscape and rehabilitated to a safe and stable condition. 

The Upper Hunter Mining Dialogue has investigated the potential for beneficial uses of mine voids.

Legacy mines are former mine sites which operated prior to modern mining practices and did not have the comprehensive environmental management and rehabilitation regulations which current mining operations must adhere to in NSW. These sites require rehabilitation or remediation.

As no individual or organisation can be held responsible for their management, the NSW Government’s Legacy Mines Program assists landholders to conduct rehabilitation and remediation works to improve legacy mines and reduce environmental and safety risks. The Program receives annual funding through the State Budget.

Further information regarding voids, rehabilitation, and closure and relinquishment can be found in fact sheets available on our website.