During a visit to Callide mine site earlier this month, Member for Callide and Minister for Infrastructure and Planning, the Honourable Jeff Seeney, was given an exclusive tour of a $4.2 million rehabilitation site on the mine.
The 34 hectare site used native and endemic plant species, including a planting of softwood scrub plant species, and formed a trial for such species growing in basalt soil types across other Anglo American operations.
Callide’s Environmental Officer, Amy Warden, led the tour with the Deputy Premier to explain Anglo American’s commitment to the rehabilitation of mining sites with the long term in mind.
"The Callide rehabilitation site is aimed to create a safe, stable and non-polluting final landform which at the end of the mine’s life will meet the criteria for handover to the community in a sustainable state.
"What makes this site different to others is our forward thinking to the end outcome. Although rehabilitation occurs through various stages of mine operation, this site was specifically planned with the final land use in mine.
"Ultimately in 15 to 20 years’ time the investment now will make this site a viable asset for stakeholders to take over post mining in the area.
"This site is a great testing ground for the tube stock plantings and the higher slope gradient we have implemented here due to the terrain at Callide and if successful these principals will be applied at other areas around the mine and possibly other mine sites with unusually steep topography" Amy said.
Hon Jeff Seeney expressed his support for environmental initiatives in the mining industry, and stated that the Callide rehabilitation site was yet another example of the Anglo American’s commitment to the environment and good corporate citizenship.
The Deputy Premier commented that there was a balance between a mine remaining economically viable while also delivering sound environmental outcomes. He commended that the dialogue between companies such as Anglo American and the Government’s Department of Environment and Heritage Protection was becoming more scientific rather than just theoretical and the Callide site was an excellent example of this achievement.
ENDS