Rehabilitation of the Westside open cut coal mine near Lake Macquarie in New South Wales was completed in April 2012, just two months after mining operations ceased.
The closure plan for the mine divided the site into a number of different rehabilitation domains with different completion criteria developed for each area and included a void which has been retained as a permanent lake.
Extensive surface preparation activities for rehabilitated areas commenced as soon as possible following the completion of mining activities. This followed a programme of progressive rehabilitation across the life of the mine.
The Westside Mine closure plan has been carefully implemented with a clear goal of achieving relinquishment in a staged manner, once sustainable vegetation has been established and agreed closure criteria have been met. OCAL has used sophisticated and innovative monitoring methods to ensure objectives are being met and have employed a proactive management approach to optimise ecological outcomes for the site.
The land has been successfully returned to high quality native vegetation and is home to a diverse range of flora and fauna.
Sources:
For a more detailed account of this case study please refer to ICMM’s Integrated Mine Closure: Good Practice Guide (p58)