Trials for Commercial Timber Plantations as an alternative final land use

Specifications

• Client: Confidential Client
• Scope:

  Verterra collaborated with the client to increase the commercial productivity of rehabilitated mine sites at Meandu mine while maintaining environmental diversity values. A number of research trials were designed by Verterra for implementation during 2013-14.

• Challenge:

  Rehabilitation of mine sites to native vegetation is a default option preferred by the regulator, but creates land of little interest to natural resource management agencies with stretched budgets. Definite demonstration of successful closure is also difficult to achieve. Rehabilitation of mine sites to a commercial land use presents the opportunity to create a post-mining asset of value to the community, creates an incentive for active post-mining management, and through interest in active management by others, positively demonstrates that closure criteria have been met, but is not favoured by the regulator.

• Solution:

  In collaboration with the client, Verterra designed an approach for re-establishment of a mixed species native forest that has potential to provide the opportunity for both biodiversity and commerial timber production. By demonstrating a science-based understanding of forest development, Verterra was able to assist the client to overcome concerns expressed by the regulator to achieve approval for trial implementation.

• Benefit to Client:

  The project offered the client an alternative rehabilitation option and improve social licence to operate by delivering a productive option for post-mine closure land use.

   

• Market Sector: Mining
• Capabilities:
  • Mine site, tailings dam and degraded land rehabilitation
  • Forest and fodder crops
  • Research Services
• Location: Queensland
• Year: 2013 - 2014