Assessing the Likelihood of Mine Site Revegetation Success: A Queensland Case Study

摘要

Mining companies operating in Queensland have a statutory obligation to rehabilitate mined land. The long-term sustainability and success of the rehabilitation is currently assessed through completion criteria, based on comparisons between rehabilitation and ecological 'reference' sites. A copper mine in northwest Queensland was studied in 2002-2003 to examine the difficulties with this comparative approach arising from the differences in ecological, mining and regulatory timeframes. Operation of the mine commenced in 1994 and is expected to cease in 2007. The study provides an overview of revegetation progression at the mine and examines the likelihood of the revegetation satisfying completion criteria. The seven-year old rehabilitated sites and two 'reference' sites were examined using Landscape Function Analysis, assessment of vegetation parameters and application of the 'vital attributes' model of succession. These studies were used to assess the current status of revegetation, the value of 'reference' comparisons and to predict likely successional trajectories. The study showed revegetation has not yet satisfied the completion criteria, which is unsurprising considering the relatively short time passed since the commencement of mining and revegetation work. The study examines the issue of successfully revegetating mined land in a semi-arid to arid zone of Queensland within the current legal framework.