Regenerative landscapes
Rehabilitation of Hazelwood mine
Urmi Jethva Landscape Architecture Master Thesis 2021 RMIT University
Regenerative Landscapes Rehabilitation of Hazelwood Mine
How the degraded and sunken landscape of Hazelwood mine caused by mining activities can be renovated and remediated into a new ecosystem that leads to water management, environmental and community benefits enhancing cultural and historical values?
“An altered landscape is not fully remediated until it again serves the community it helped to establish” - Julie Bargmann
With the increase in mining legacies in Victoria, there is a gap between mine closure goals and rehabilitation outcomes leading to abandoned mines. Hazelwood mine, the chosen case study in Latrobe Valley, has been proposed as a pit lake by a mining company considering land instability, coal ignition and soil contamination. Latrobe community, on the contrary, against this proposal considering the drying climate, water scarcity issues with the decrease in flow of water bodies and significant reduction in aquifer (groundwater) levels. Building upon the theories of Jonathan Maskit, this design research takes into consideration the unique opportunities of the site and experiments the alternate ways through both renovation and restoration. The design iterations test various possibilities and options which aims to renovate the site by promoting industrial-heritage-led and culture-led tourism, along with creating new ecological systems through better bioremediation and water management strategies that benefit local agriculture. This design initiative suggests a starting point that can be upscaled and multiplied to improve both human and non-human habitats, preserve historical and cultural values of the abandoned mines, strengthen local economy and improve quality of life.
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Contents
00 | Understanding the broader system
7-15
02 | Breaking the system
0.1 Introduction
3.1 The Design Approach / Methodology
0.2 Mining legacies in Australia
3.2 Precedent Study
0.3 Clients and Stakeholders
3.3 Design Iterations and learning
0.4 Theoretical framework
3.4 Implementation
35-77
3.5 Conclusion
01 | Understanding the site
17- 33
03 | Creating new system
79-83
2.1 Community engagement 1.1 Site location
2.2 Reforming the policies
1.2 Issues and Conditions
04 | Conclusion
85-88
4.1 Reflections 4.2 Bibliography 4.3 Acknowledgements
4
5
00 | Understanding the broader system 0.1 Introduction 0.2 Mining legacies in Australia 0.3 Clients and Stakeholders 0.4 Theoretical framework
6
7
00 | Understanding the broader system
0.1 Introduction
0.2 Mining legacies in Australia
0.3 Clients and Stakeholders
0.4 Theoretical framework
00 | Understanding the broader system
0.1 Introduction
0.2 Mining legacies in Australia
0.3 Clients and Stakeholders
0.4 Theoretical framework
Introduction
Nowadays, a great gap between mine closure goals and outcomes of the rehabilitation is seen in mine sites remediation projects that continues to damage environment. The Latrobe Valley is a rich cultural place that has a unique story in Victoria’s history. It is a geographic area that is immensely rich in natural resources. The landscapes of Latrobe valley started transforming with the increase in industrial mining development. Brown Coal Mine was the beginning of largescale exploitation of the rich brown coal deposits in the Latrobe Valley. Communities were always part of the changing phases of industrialization. Victoria has approximately 19,000 such legacy sites. The responsible agency for Victoria, the Earth and Energy resources (EER) has no policy, program, and funds to rehabilitate such mine sites (Pepper, Roche & Mudd 2014). There are great number of abandoned mines which continue to degrade landscapes and affecting community. Hazelwood mine (one of the three mines of Latrobe valley) is 150 meters deep and more than 3 times the size of the Melbourne CBD. Hazelwood has operated for more than 52 years. It supplies up to 25 per cent of Victoria’s energy. Both the power station and mine are owned by ENGIE, a major multinational energy company, whose biggest shareholder is the French government
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In 2014, the mine that supplies Hazelwood power station caught fire. It burned for 45 days and left the surrounding area in toxic smoke. It was one of the worst pollution events in Victoria’s history. The ageing and increasingly inefficient plant of Hazelwood was the most expensive brown coal station in Victoria and for safe and efficient operation, $400 million would need to be invested which was not viable for the ENGIE company. As a result of it, Hazelwood mine got shutdown in 2017. With that, it was proposed to rehabilitate the mine and to be turned into a lake (AAP General News Wire 2017). On the contrary, Central Gippsland farmers who use the river for irrigation, as well as environmentalists feared of drawing large amounts of water from the Latrobe River that could damage the environment. Flows of river have dried by 25 per cent since 1997, falling from 800 gigalitres to 600 gigalitres. And to fill Hazelwood mine with water it needs 725 gigalitres taking 15-30 years to fill. Due to extraction of water from the aquifers, there has been considerable decrease in aquifer water levels. Also, Hazelwood mine has stability issues of land causing subsidence, sinkholes, cracks on the floors, mine batters and block sliding affecting surrounding context and community. Also, the climate is drying up and decrease in flow of Latrobe River and waterbodies, there is a need to resolve the issues of water scarcity.
So, filling up the pit lake of Hazelwood mine with the water from Latrobe River which is already drying up is not a solution. It is at this conflict; this design research proposes a new system to create a healthy environment with a place that is valued by the Latrobe Valley and all of Victoria and reflects and builds on the history and heritage of the area along with safe and stable conditions of such post-mined landscapes. Also, this design research takes initiative to form new strategies to fulfill the existing gap by engagement of community in post-mining landscapes with an increase in a collaborative approach of mining industries and governments with the community where not only the mine owners but key stakeholders like people of Latrobe valley should be involved in a decision making that leads to sustainable solution.
UN Sustainable Development Goals Goal 15: Life on land Goal 15: Protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss. Target : By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought, and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradationneutral world. This project aims at restoration and rehabilitation of degraded land and soil caused by mining activities and develop a new ecosystem to enhance the life on the land by reversing the toxicity of the site and making it a better place to the community.
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00 | Understanding the broader system
0.1 Introduction
0.2 Mining legacies in Australia
0.3 Clients and Stakeholders
0.4 Theoretical framework
00 | Understanding the broader system
0.1 Introduction
0.2 Mining legacies in Australia
0.3 Clients and Stakeholders
0.4 Theoretical framework
Mining legacies in Australia
Australia is one of the world’s leading mineral resources nations. There are 2075 known mineral deposits, 431 operating mines and 1373 historic mines in Australia. Changing scale and intensity of mining in Australia with huge and never-ending impacts, demands an urgent and effective response to mining legacies (Pepper, Roche & Mudd 2014).
Australia
Mineral resources throughout the world
Hazelwood mine Morwell, Victoria
Operating mines Historic mines
Victoria
Abandoned mines
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00 | Understanding the broader system
0.1 Introduction
0.2 Mining legacies in Australia
0.3 Clients and Stakeholders
00 | Understanding the broader system
0.4 Theoretical framework
0.1 Introduction
0.2 Mining legacies in Australia
0.3 Clients and Stakeholders
0.4 Theoretical framework
Stakeholders
Clients
For such a huge reclamation of the site of Hazelwood mine, collaborative approach of governments and mining companies is important. Latrobe city council along with Victorian Government and Water industries play significant role for the success of the site. Mining companies should approach and involve community to enhance the project by knowing the needs of the community affected by the mining throughout the years.
Stakeholders
ENGIE & MItsui Mine Owners
Latrobe City Council
Local Government
Latrobe Valley Community Local landholders The Gippsland Region
Community
- funding for the rehabilitation of hazelwood mine
Primary Stakeholders Gunaikurnai Traditional Owner Land Management Board
Secondary Stakeholders Traditional owners
Gunaikurnai Land & Waters Aboriginal Corporation
Environmental groups
Friends of Latrobe water
Economic groups
Latrobe valley Field Naturalists club
Interests groups
Social Interest groups The Victorian Farmers Federation Local farmers and irrigators Earth Resources
Regulation unit
Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) Victorian Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions (DJPR)
Victorian Government
Gippsland Water
The water industry
Southern Rural Water West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority
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Farmers and Irrigators
Member A
Coal hole collective
Art initiative
Universities
Academic Institutions
Research Institutions
Involving with the community groups
If communities willing to do an How do you se
Occupation : full time health worker studied aquifers Current involvement : working on mining reforms Concerns
: communities are not informed of the problems
Viewpoints : - want self-sustaining landscape - usable landscape feature knowing the reality of issues - change the mindset of beauracrates - if truth comes out and involved properly, member A is ready to work proactively
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00 | Understanding the broader system
0.1 Introduction
0.2 Mining legacies in Australia
0.3 Clients and Stakeholders
0.4 Theoretical framework
00 | Understanding the broader system
0.1 Introduction
0.2 Mining legacies in Australia
0.3 Clients and Stakeholders
0.4 Theoretical framework
Theoretical framework Positioning design research with relevant theories and precedents
Agnes Denes Artist
Jillian Walliss Agnes Denes created the land art pieces leading to functional ecological restoration with community based interventions.
Katherine kok Landscape Architects
juxtaposition of wilderness and human disturbance
Geotourism experiential landscape cultural and scientific perspectives
Wheatfield - A Confrontation Battery Park Landfill, Downtown Manhattan Title Post-mining remediation
Tree Mountain - A Living Time Capsule 11,000 Trees, 11,000 People, 400 Years Ylojarvi, Finland
The Wilderness Railway steam locomotives and built carriages for tourist West Coast Wilderness Railway Queensland, Tasmania (2002 - 2013) Gorges, dead rivers and rainforest ecology
Jonathan Maskit Philosopher
How the degraded and sunken landscape of Hazelwood mine caused by mining activities can be rehabilitated and regenerated into a new ecosystem that leads to water management, environmental and community benefits?
How to change the mined site?
Richard Hobbs Ecologist
Restoring the preindustrial history neglecting the current condition of site
Jonathan Maskit (2009) defined restoration as " The goal of restoration is to return a site to the way it was before its industrial use. "
New site eradicating preindustrial and current conditions of site into a new transformation
Jonathan Maskit (2009) defined transformation as " Its goal is to give the site some aesthetic character that is disconnected both from its preindustrial and industrial pasts."
Keeping the characteristics of the industrial site and encompassing past and present and leading to future development
Jonathan Maskit (2009) defined renovation as " Its goal is to come up with a way of engaging with a site such that new possibilities are created while the traces of the site's past, preindustrial and industrial, are preserved."
Matt Baida Landscape Architect
Richard Hobbs explored the linkages between ecological succession and the practice of restoration from a variety of different perspectives. Ecological restoration is viewed as the manipulation of successional processes to meet realistic targets in restoring damaged landscapes. Fresh Kills Park James Corner Field Operations Landscape Architect
Investigation of role of Landscape Architects in achieving post mining sustainability Mining companies should change thw way of thinking by incorporating local communities increasing opportunities for broad engagement and multi-disciplinary approach in reclamation of large scale mine sites (Slingerland, Neeltje & Baida, Matt & Wilson, Ward. (2014). The great divide between mine closure goals and outcomes, and potential solutions)
Delivering a post mined landscape that not only delivers unique project but also positively enhance the social and economic capacity of the surrounding area. They decided to dig 3.4 million tonnes of coal and with that they proposed reuse of the site and create landform sculpture.
Emscher Landscape Park, Germany
James Corner Field Operations
Herman Prigann Artist
Julie Bargmann Landscape Architect Julie Bargmann uses ‘toxic beauty’ to transform industrial sites into 21st-century public spaces with a past, present and future. AMD & Art Vintondale Reclamation Project, Pennsylvania
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The project phases the long-term cultivation of new ecologies and formation of new habitats along with the development of program structure and activities. Community engagement and participation played important role with discussions and inputs leading to successful implementation of each stage of the project.
'The lady' at Northumberlandia, United Kingdom
‘Rheinelbe is unique, the first example of how an industrial area – forest – wilderness can be transformed into a new kind of park.’ Herman Prigann, 2008
Skulpturenwald, Rheinelbe, Germany Prigann calls postindustrial sites as "non-land" Such sites should be made available for new uses preserving the traces of its industrial past
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01 | Understanding the site 1.1 Site location 1.2 Issues and Conditions
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17
01 | Understanding the site
1.1 Site location
01 | Understanding the site
1.2 Issues and Conditions
1.1 Site location
1.2 Issues and Conditions
Latrobe Valley mines
With Victoria having 16000 legacy mines, there exists a gap between mine closure goals and rehabilitation outcomes increasing degraded and abandoned mines.
A 7
8
12
11 2
3 10
pot ent ial bi
9
o li n k 6
1
4
5
13
A’
N
5 km
150 m 100 m 50 m 0m -50 m
10
2 1
11 12 13
-100 m
16000 m
Section A-A’
18
Existing population center and rural town
5
Morwell Traralgon Moe Churchill high agricultural zone
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Hazelwood mine site Yallourn mine Loy yang mine Hazelwood powerstation Hazelwood pondage Morwell river Latrobe river Lake Narracan Princes Freeway
Data source : Spatial Datamart Victoria
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01 | Understanding the site
1.1 Site location
01 | Understanding the site
1.2 Issues and Conditions
1.1 Site location
1.2 Issues and Conditions
Hazelwood mine site
Hazelwood mine (one of the three mines of Latrobe valley) is 150 meters deep and more than 3 times the size of the Melbourne CBD. Hazelwood has operated for more than 52 years. It supplies up to 25 per cent of Victoria’s energy. C
B’
3
1
B
2
C’
N
1 2 3
Hazelwood mine Hazelwood powerstation Morwell river
2km
Exposed coal
Water logged areas
Mine floo
Mine batters
150 m 100 m 50 m 0m -50 m -100 m
150 m 100 m
4000 m Section C-C’
50 m 0m -50 m -100 m 10000 m Section B-B’
Data source : Spatial data mart Victoria data.gov
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01 | Understanding the site
1.1 Site location
01 | Understanding the site
1.2 Issues and Conditions
1.1 Site location
1.2 Issues and Conditions
Land subsidience due to aquifer depressurisation
To stabilise the land during the mining process, 30 GL/year of groundwater (from all the 3 mines) is pumped out to depressurize the aquifer systems. With that, issues of land subsidence are faced by the surrounding land. With the closure of the mines, the issues of instability of land are increasing causing floor cracks and movements of mine batters and block sliding impacting the surrounding area of mine.
Latrobe river
Traralgon
2
Morwell
1300
1400 1500
1200
3
2400
1100 1
1000 900 800
Morwell river 600 500
N
700
400 300
2 km
200
1 2 3
Hazelwood mine Yallourn mine Loy yang mine
Regional land subsidience (1950-2015) 0.3-0.5 m
Loy yang mine Yallourn mine
Hazelwood mine
A Yallourn coal seams
A
B Latrobe coal seams
B
M1 Aquifer RL (-90 m)
Yallourn interseam clays
coal seams
C C
M1 Aquifer RL (-60 m)
Traralgon Aquifer RL (-40 m)
A Shallow Aquifer System B Morwell Formation Aquifer System C Traralgon Formation Aquifer System
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M2 Aquifer RL (-60 m) Schematic Regional Aquifer systems Aquifer drawdown (1960-2002)
Data source : Research gate
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01 | Understanding the site
1.1 Site location
01 | Understanding the site
1.2 Issues and Conditions
1.1 Site location
1.2 Issues and Conditions
Reduced level of aquifers
Legend Reduced water levels (mAHD) -62 - -16 -15 - 12 13 - 26 27 - 46 B
47 - 72 Groundwater levels has been reduced throughout the years. Lower Aquifers Moe : Groundwater levels fell during a dry period in the late 1990s and recovered, however they are slowly falling again. Stratford : Data shows a long-term declining trend Middle Aquifers Rosedale : Regional decline of 5 metres has occurred since 1985
Traralgon
Hazelwood mine A A
B Moe
Traralgon
Rosedale
Sale
Lower Middle Aquifer Upper Mid tertiary Aquifer
N
Lower Aquifer
10 km Data source : Southern Rural Water
24
25
01 | Understanding the site
1.1 Site location
01 | Understanding the site
1.2 Issues and Conditions
1.1 Site location
1.2 Issues and Conditions
Latrobe river water level change
1050 GL
1985
GL
1600 1500 1400
Future predictions
1300 1200 1100
Wet climate projection
1000 900
1999
500 GL
800
Median climate projection
700 600 500 400
Actual infows
Dry climate projection
300 200 100 0
1975 1980 1985
2004
Hazelwood mine Yallourn mine Loy yang mine Rural water use Farmlands
Urban use
Consumptive uses 1990
1995 2000
2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030
800 GL
2035 2040
2045 2050 2055
2060 2065 2070 2075 2080 2085 2090
Latrobe river system inflows and use
600 GL
2018 0
Water summary (%)
100
Data source : Spatial data mart Research gate
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01 | Understanding the site
1.1 Site location
1.2 Issues and Conditions
01 | Understanding the site
1.1 Site location
1.2 Issues and Conditions
Groundwater dependent agriculture
Majority of agriculture surrounding the Latrobe valley mine sites depends on the groundwater.
Legend
irrigated agriculture rainfed agriculture
Data source : Google Earth Engine GFSAD1000: Cropland Extent 1km Multi-Study Crop Mask, Global Food-Support Analysis Data
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01 | Understanding the site
1.1 Site location
01 | Understanding the site
1.2 Issues and Conditions
1.1 Site location
1.2 Issues and Conditions
Morwell river
Aquifer system
N
5 km
Legend
Groundwater depth (50-150m)
Lake Narracan
Latrobe river
Aquitards Aquifer boundary Water table aquifer boundary
Princes Freeway
-275
-250 75
-250
75
Hazelwood mine Site 25
25 -25 0 -50
0
-300 -325
-300
-225
50 50
-275
-325
-225
-200
-25 -50
-200
-350
-175
-350
-175
-150 -150
75 75
-125
Morwell river
-250
25
0
-25 -50 25
-275 -250
-275 -300
75
-225 50
-300 -325
-225
-200
-200 -175
-150 75
75
-50 -25
-125
-125
-100
-100
-75 -50 -25
-350 -175
-350
-325
-375
-75
30
-350
-350 -325
-375
-375
-400
-400 -425
75
75
50
-275 -250
-175
Lower Tertiary Aquifers Lower Tertiary Aquifers
50
100
100
-375
-325
-375 -400 -425
-300
-225 -200
Upper Mid-tertiary Upper Mid-tertiary Aquifers Aquifers
Quaternary Aquifers Quaternary Aquifers
-375
Upper Mid-tertiary Aquifers Upper Mid-tertiary Aquifers
-450
-300
-25
-350
-350
-150
-100
-100 -75 -50
-25
5 km
-325
-25 -50
-75
-375
Data source : Spatial data mart Victoria
50 0
-50
N Quaternary Aquifers Quaternary Aquifers
75
-375
-125
-275 -250 Groundwater
-475
depth (50-150m) -500
Aquitards -225 -200
-525
-400 -425
75
75
100
100
-450
-475 -500 -525
50
50
75
Aquifer boundary
-175 Water
50
50
table aquifer boundary
75 100
100
Upper Tertiary aquitards Upper Tertiary aquitards
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01 | Understanding the site
1.1 Site location
01 | Understanding the site
1.2 Issues and Conditions
Soil geology
1.1 Site location
1.2 Issues and Conditions
Morwell river
Legend
Gippsland Plain Sodosol Chromosol Podosol Ferrosol Kandasol
Lake Narracan A
Hydrosol
Latrobe river
Rudosol Tenosol
Latrobe valley mines has Sodosols type of soil. They occur on Tertiary sediments and on the extensive alluvial plains and river terraces deposited during the Pleistocene Period. They have a strong texture contrast between loamy surface (A) horizons and clayey subsurface (B) horizons. The subsoils are sodic and not strongly acid. (pH - 5.5 or lower)
Princes Freeway
Hazelwood mine Hazelwood mine Site
Morwell river
N
5 km
Gippsland Plain
32
Sodosol Chromosol
Data source : Spatial data mart Victoria
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02 | Breaking the system 3.1 The Design Approach / Methodology 3.2 Precedent Study 3.3 Design Iterations and learning 3.4 Implementation
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02 | Breaking the system
3.1 The Design Approach / Methodology
3.2 Precedent Study
3.3 Design Iterations and learning
02 | Breaking the system
3.4 Implementation
3.1 The Design Approach / Methodology
3.2 Precedent Study
3.3 Design Iterations and learning
3.4 Implementation
Design Approach
Renovation
Restoration
Transformation
Humans
Biotic Abiotic disturbance
succession
community assembly
restoration
First assembly driver - site conditions and history Second assembly driver - species selection Third assembly driver- species performance
Bioremediation Phytoremediation recolonisation of fauna pioneer stages
intermediate stage
climax community
revegetation of species reconstruction of the soil profile
disturbance restoration
ecological succession
recountouring the topography stabilising slope
time
rebuilding history and heritage
community and recreational spaces
restoring ecological systems planning implementation evaluation
recharging and managing the groundwater
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02 | Breaking the system
3.1 The Design Approach / Methodology
3.2 Precedent Study
3.3 Design Iterations and learning
02 | Breaking the system
3.4 Implementation
3.1 The Design Approach / Methodology
3.2 Precedent Study
3.3 Design Iterations and learning
3.4 Implementation
Precedent Study 1 Emscher landscape Park, Germany
Rhein-Herne canal
Dinslaken
Gelsenkirchen Bottrop Dortmund
Emscher river
nature reserves
Four main pumping stations and wastewater treatment plants
biotope links
ecological centres
Underground sewage system Chanelling wastewater into underground canals
Biotope networks along the Emscher river
When there was expansion of the underground coal mining, Emscher river was impacted by severe floods and sewage wastewater from industries and population. In 1988, International Building Exhibition Emscher Park (IBA) introduced Project Ruhr with an aim of cleaning up the Emscher river and convert the rust belt into green area with collaboration of 17 local communities and mining companies forming Germany’s largest sewage Association. Environmental : conversion of polluted rust belt into into new ecology biotope networks cleaning of the river through underground canals Social : green spaces making communities healthier adventure playground for people Economical : use of existing strucures saving cost of demolishing the remains
connecting pathways
Developed green areas
Rhein-Herne canal
Emscher river
Ruhr valley section
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02 | Breaking the system
3.1 The Design Approach / Methodology
3.2 Precedent Study
3.3 Design Iterations and learning
3.4 Implementation
02 | Breaking the system
3.1 The Design Approach / Methodology
3.2 Precedent Study
3.3 Design Iterations and learning
3.4 Implementation
Design Iteration 1 - Restoration
-
water considering the water level depth, how can i create combination of land and water
+ with landform design, water will collect through rainwater and stormwater not dependent on other sources
water quality issues, more evaporation and bringing water from othersources still remains a question
- more resources and maintenance to restore the entire site
hydrology flow
circulation and intervention nodes
land experimenting with clay model to understand the topography to retain hydrology flow
- water scarcity still remains with land instability with entire site as restored land
phase 1 moving from pioneer stage to intermediate stage
formation of combination of land and water
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phase 2 moving from intermediate stage to climax community land + water
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02 | Breaking the system
3.1 The Design Approach / Methodology
3.2 Precedent Study
3.3 Design Iterations and learning
3.4 Implementation
Literature study 1 - Philosophies of Jonathan Maskit
Restoring the preindustrial history neglecting the current condition of site
Jonathan Maskit (2009) defined restoration as “ The goal of restoration is to return a site to the way it was before its industrial use.”
New site eradicating preindustrial and current conditions of site into a new transformation
Jonathan Maskit (2009) defined transformation as “ Its goal is to give the site some aesthetic character that is disconnected both from its preindustrial and industrial pasts.”
Keeping the characteristics of the industrial site and encompassing past and present and leading to future development
Jonathan Maskit (2009) defined renovation as “ Its goal is to come up with a way of engaging with a site such that new possibilities are created while the traces of the site’s past, preindustrial and industrial, are preserved.”
02 | Breaking the system
3.1 The Design Approach / Methodology
3.2 Precedent Study
3.3 Design Iterations and learning
3.4 Implementation
Design Iteration 2 - Restoration and Renovation
Restoration Renovation dividing the site into restoration and renovation maintains the history and heritage of the site keeps the characteristics along with restoring the land less maintenance
Restoration Renovation segregating the site into restoration and renovation maintains the history and heritage of the site keeps the characteristics along with restoring the land less maintenance
Restoration Renovation
cleaning of existing waterbodies through bioremediation and creating reticulated network of lakes leading to wetlands and then storage area
(1-30 years) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
3
7 2
2
1 1 3
4
4
4
2 4 3
1
2 6 3
1 3
1. Phytoremediation plants 2. Swamp Scrub 3. Valley Grassy forest 4. Riparian Woodland
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5. Plain Grassy Forest 6. Plains Grassland 7. Sedge Wetland
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02 | Breaking the system
3.1 The Design Approach / Methodology
3.2 Precedent Study
3.3 Design Iterations and learning
3.4 Implementation
02 | Breaking the system
3.1 The Design Approach / Methodology
3.2 Precedent Study
3.3 Design Iterations and learning
3.4 Implementation
Further interventions in design iterations- Scale M
mine walls bringing people from upper part to the lowest area with activity spots in between experiencing the scale human-site interaction where site scale overpowers human
activity spaces
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02 | Breaking the system
3.1 The Design Approach / Methodology
3.2 Precedent Study
3.3 Design Iterations and learning
3.4 Implementation
02 | Breaking the system
3.1 The Design Approach / Methodology
3.2 Precedent Study
3.3 Design Iterations and learning
3.4 Implementation
Further interventions in design iterations - Scale M
remediated zone lowest part as water system human-plant interaction human-water interaction
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02 | Breaking the system
3.1 The Design Approach / Methodology
3.2 Precedent Study
3.3 Design Iterations and learning
02 | Breaking the system
3.4 Implementation
3.1 The Design Approach / Methodology
3.2 Precedent Study
3.3 Design Iterations and learning
3.4 Implementation
Precedent Study 2 Fresh kills Park
Freshkills Park is a reclamation project transforming world’s largest landfill into public parkland. The project phases the long-term cultivation of new ecologies and formation of new habitats along with the development of program structure and activities. Community engagement and participation played important role with discussions and inputs leading to successful implementation of each stage of the project.
1-30 years
Phasing: restoring, cultivating ecological restoration ecological succession
With unpacking the techniques, new realisation was uncovered that each phase has an influence around that time and as phasing has long period of time, it becomes critical to think about how it benefits the community and environment during each phase and also how that each phase becomes catalyst for another phase leading to successful evolution with time.
Crops Grasslands and Woodlands
design process
Forest
1-10 years
11-20 years
21-30 years
Phasing: generating spaces, patching circulation and public spaces
generating
patching
public spaces circulation habitat improvements, circulation routes and program structure
phasing generates the forms layering program structure on top of ecological succession
with further phasing, generated forms patch together
program structure
P6 P5 P4
ecological restoration
P1
P2
restoration
P3
disturbance
phasing of ecological restoration and program structure runs parallel
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02 | Breaking the system
3.1 The Design Approach / Methodology
3.2 Precedent Study
3.3 Design Iterations and learning
02 | Breaking the system
3.4 Implementation
3.1 The Design Approach / Methodology
3.2 Precedent Study
3.3 Design Iterations and learning
3.4 Implementation
Masterplan - Scale L
Key
d
a a b
c
c d
Morwell region Morwell river underpass connecting community to site Princess Freeway
14 12
E 11
P
p2
3
17 7
12 16
B B 3
E
12
B p1
p2 4 19
p2
20
1
p1
2
p2
p1
3 4
2
B
5
E B
p1
6
1
14
9 3
7 8
P
9 10
1 E
11 P
12
p1
P
13
14
2
14 15
13
16
4
17 18
3
19 p1
20
E P
vehicular entry point parking bridge primary circulation path secondary circulation path
6
B
18
E
d
P
4
15
3 b
P
P
3
8
10 5
B
1 p2
13
information center hiking trail mining trail community spaces camping area Art area children play area water sport activities indoor sport facilities cycle track mountain biking picnic spots cafe/restaurants lookout points piers bird observation education landscaped hault Gunaikurnai heritage trail markets event spaces Legend
1
Rain garden Swamp Scrub Sedge Wetland Plains Grassland Floodplain Riparian Woodland Plains Grassy Forest Valley Grassy Forest
E
N 1 km
from surface catchments clean water to Morwell region and farmlands
GL 40 m -60 m -80 m
retention pond
50
Grassy Forest
reticulated network of lakes
lake 1
Swamp lake 2 Swamp lake 3
Swamp lake 4
Swamp
lake 5
wetland
Riparian Woodland
water storage lake
Valley Grassy Forest
51
02 | Breaking the system
3.1 The Design Approach / Methodology
3.2 Precedent Study
3.3 Design Iterations and learning
02 | Breaking the system
3.4 Implementation
3.1 The Design Approach / Methodology
3.2 Precedent Study
3.3 Design Iterations and learning
3.4 Implementation
Phases 1-30 years
phase 1
phase 2
phase 3
phase 4
6 6
Phasing: restoring, cultivating
5
2
6
6
4
1
0
Phtoremediation plants
1
Swamp Scrub
2
Sedge Wetland
3
Latrobe Valley Plains Grasslands
4
Floodplain Riparian Woodland
5
Plains Grassy Forest
1
6
4
3
5
5
3
3
disturbance
desired condition
Forest
cultivated soil
6
4
3
5 3
6
2 6
3
ecological restoration
6
6 1
4
phase 5
Grasslands and Woodlands
Valley Grassy Forest cutting and filling
strip cropping planting phytoremediation plants
substrate and species change
succession
Phasing: generating spaces, patching
program structure circulation
mining landscape trail
1. while other phases are developing visitors would experience the existing landform 2. phase 1 focusing on increasing revenue
52
bridge development
circulation development alongwith waterbodies
1. bicycle trail
1. internal linking
2. enhancing existing road network
2. adding more entry points from surrounding into the site
main activity area development after cleaning of waterbodies
developed site
1. entry point connecting community to northeast mine site area
1. North east renovated zone and activity area
2. activities around wetlands and lake
2. cleaned waterbodies and water storage area
53
02 | Breaking the system
3.1 The Design Approach / Methodology
3.2 Precedent Study
3.3 Design Iterations and learning
02 | Breaking the system
3.4 Implementation
3.1 The Design Approach / Methodology
3.2 Precedent Study
3.3 Design Iterations and learning
3.4 Implementation
Cleaning of waterbodies
Lomandra longifolia Cynodon dactylon Pteridium esculentum Melaleuca alternifolia
Acacia implexa
Acacia mearnsii
Exocarpos cupressiformis
Eucalyptus muelleriana
Leptospermum continentale
Eucalyptus polyanthemos
Banksia marginata
Eucalyptus macrorhyncha
Helianthus annuus mustard
Grevillea robusta
corn Populus
Phytoremediation plants
Phytoremediation plants Leptospermum lanigerum Melaleuca ericifolia
Pimelea humilis
Wahlenbergia gracilis Lythrum Salicaria Crasulla helmsii
Plains Grassy Forest
Swamp Scrub phase 1
from surface catchments rainwater runoff retention pond
phase 2
lake 1
phase 3
lake 2
phase 4
lake 3
lake 4
aquifer recharge gaining of water
GL 40 m water table level Quaternary aquifer
aquifer recharge gaining of water
groundwater flow
gaining of water
groundwater flow
- 60 m
seams of soil, clay and silts - 200 m Upper Mid tertiary aquifer groundwater flow
ground
Reticulated network of lakes Cleaning of existing waterbodies
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55
02 | Breaking the system
3.1 The Design Approach / Methodology
3.2 Precedent Study
3.3 Design Iterations and learning
02 | Breaking the system
3.4 Implementation
3.1 The Design Approach / Methodology
3.2 Precedent Study
3.3 Design Iterations and learning
3.4 Implementation
Cleaning of waterbodies
Juncus usitatus Acacia mearnsii
Eucalyptus radiata
Acacia decurrens
Phytoremediation plants Eucalyptus camaldulensis
Leptospermum continentale
Villarsia reniformis
Pimelea humilis
Eucalyptus leucoxylon
Poranthera microphylla
Acacia mearnsii
Acacia pycnantha Acacia melanoxylon
Themeda triandra
Veronica plebeia
Arthropodium strictum
Baloskian tetraphyllum Juncus amabilis
Baumea rubiginosa
Eucalyptus melliodora
Urtica incisa
Eucalyptus ovata
Triglochin procerum
Hymenanthera dentata
Bursaria spinosa
Epilobium billardierianum
Carex appressa
Valley Grassy Forest
Floodplain Riparian Woodland
Sedge Wetland
to farmlands and Morwell region
phase 4
phase 5
lake 4
lake 5 wetland
aquifer recharge water storage lake
gaining of water
aquifer recharge
aquifer recharge aquifer recharge
groundwater flow
gaining of water
groundwater flow toward Gippsland lakes
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57
02 | Breaking the system
3.1 The Design Approach / Methodology
3.2 Precedent Study
3.3 Design Iterations and learning
02 | Breaking the system
3.4 Implementation
3.1 The Design Approach / Methodology
3.2 Precedent Study
3.3 Design Iterations and learning
3.4 Implementation
Masterplan - Scale M
Morwell region
E
15 b
a 2
14
13
p2
a
8
E
1 b
P 15
a
13 P
b
9
Key
a p1
10 3
P
a P
7
p2
B
p2 5
E
b 11 3
P
6
2
B
1
p1 2
12
6
p2
e e
12
vehicular entry point parking bridge primary circulation path secondary circulation path
p2 P
2
f
8
B
B
c e
N e p1
100 m
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
information center community spaces camping area Art area children play area water sport activities cycle track picnic spots cafe/restaurants lookout points piers bird observation education landscaped hault underpass connecting community to site Princess Freeway
Legend
Raingarden GL 60 m 35 m 10 m -10 m -30 m -60 m
58
a b c d e f
coal walls bioretention swales
Floodplain Riparian Woodland wetland 1
wetland 2
wetland 3
wetland 4
Bio-retention swales Rain garden Swamp Scrub Sedge Wetland Floodplain Riparian Woodland Valley Grassy Forest
water storage lake
59
02 | Breaking the system
3.1 The Design Approach / Methodology
3.2 Precedent Study
3.3 Design Iterations and learning
02 | Breaking the system
3.4 Implementation
Topography and hydrology flow
3.1 The Design Approach / Methodology
3.2 Precedent Study
3.3 Design Iterations and learning
3.4 Implementation
Substrate and species change
GL 60 m
GL 60 m 35 m 10 m -10 m -30 m
lvl 50 m
-70 m
cut and fill
lvl -55 m
GL 60 m
lvl -60 m
building soil habitat
GL 60 m
lvl -65 m
35 m 10 m -10 m -30 m
lvl 50 m
-70 m
lvl -50 m lvl -70 m
lvl -40 m
cut and fill
lvl -50 m
lvl -55 m lvl -60 m
building soil habitat
lvl -65 m
lvl -50 m lvl -50 m lvl -70 m
lvl -40 m
cut and fill
lvl -50 m
GL 60 m 35 m
lvl -50 m
10 m -10 m -30 m -70 m
cut and fill
GL 60 m 35 m 10 m -10 m -30 m -70 m
creating micro environments algae, moss, lichens
raingarden
creating micro environments algae, moss, lichens
raingarden
grass, shrubs and herbs grass, shrubs and herbs
lake
lake
toward water storage area
toward water storage area GL 60 m
wetlands
GL 60 m 35 m
wetlands
35 m 10 m -10 m -30 m -70 m
10 m -10 m -30 m -70 m
hygrology flow
hygrology flow
60
climax community
climax community
61
02 | Breaking the system
3.1 The Design Approach / Methodology
3.2 Precedent Study
3.3 Design Iterations and learning
3.4 Implementation
02 | Breaking the system
3.1 The Design Approach / Methodology
3.2 Precedent Study
3.3 Design Iterations and learning
3.4 Implementation
North East Renovated Site Area
bridge lookout point
62
63
02 | Breaking the system
3.1 The Design Approach / Methodology
3.2 Precedent Study
3.3 Design Iterations and learning
02 | Breaking the system
3.4 Implementation
3.1 The Design Approach / Methodology
3.2 Precedent Study
3.3 Design Iterations and learning
3.4 Implementation
Education Landscaped Hault
A
Key 1
community pavilion
2
education hault
3
lookout point
4
coal sculpture
1
4
Legend
2
Acacia mearnsii
3
Eucalyptus radiata Eucalyptus melliodora bio-retention swale native grasses
N
N
A’ Plan
10 m
Education landscaped hault
vegetation 1 4
coal wall
bio-retention swale 30 m
existing ground line
A Section A-A’
64
top soil
2
planting soil
3
3
sand layer gravel layer underdrain pipe
clean fill contaminated fill
sheet pile retaining wall coal wall
Detail A bio-retention swale
65
02 | Breaking the system
3.1 The Design Approach / Methodology
3.2 Precedent Study
3.3 Design Iterations and learning
3.4 Implementation
02 | Breaking the system
3.1 The Design Approach / Methodology
3.2 Precedent Study
3.3 Design Iterations and learning
3.4 Implementation
Education Landscaped Hault
heritage lookout point
66
67
02 | Breaking the system
3.1 The Design Approach / Methodology
3.2 Precedent Study
3.3 Design Iterations and learning
02 | Breaking the system
3.4 Implementation
3.1 The Design Approach / Methodology
3.2 Precedent Study
3.3 Design Iterations and learning
3.4 Implementation
Lowest point - Wetland and Lake Area
B
Floodplain Riparian Woodland vegetative filter
Swamp Sedge Wetland
top soil layer clean fill sand and gravel filters existing ground layer
B’ Plan Wetland and lake area
Detail B
top soil
-50 m
groundwater recharge
top soil
clean fill
gaining of water
groundwater recharge
B
-55m existing ground line
contaminated fill
Section B-B’
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69
02 | Breaking the system
3.1 The Design Approach / Methodology
3.2 Precedent Study
3.3 Design Iterations and learning
3.4 Implementation
02 | Breaking the system
3.1 The Design Approach / Methodology
3.2 Precedent Study
3.3 Design Iterations and learning
3.4 Implementation
Lowest point - Wetland and Lake Area
community space bird observation wetland trails education point
70
71
02 | Breaking the system
3.1 The Design Approach / Methodology
3.2 Precedent Study
3.3 Design Iterations and learning
02 | Breaking the system
3.4 Implementation
3.1 The Design Approach / Methodology
3.2 Precedent Study
3.3 Design Iterations and learning
3.4 Implementation
Sections
top soil
-50 m
groundwater recharge
top soil
top soil
groundwater recharge
clean fill
existing ground line contaminated fill
Section Community spaces Wetland area
coal wall
-55m
bio-retention swale top soil existing ground line
top soil
top soil
clean fill contaminated fill Section cycling track Camping area
72
73
02 | Breaking the system
3.1 The Design Approach / Methodology
3.2 Precedent Study
3.3 Design Iterations and learning
3.4 Implementation
02 | Breaking the system
3.1 The Design Approach / Methodology
3.2 Precedent Study
3.3 Design Iterations and learning
3.4 Implementation
Dredger lookout point
74
75
02 | Breaking the system
3.1 The Design Approach / Methodology
3.2 Precedent Study
3.3 Design Iterations and learning
3.4 Implementation
02 | Breaking the system
3.1 The Design Approach / Methodology
3.2 Precedent Study
3.3 Design Iterations and learning
3.4 Implementation
Aquatic Play Area
76
77
03 | Creating new system 2.1 Community engagement 2.2 Reforming the policies
78
79
03 | Creating new system
2.1 Community engagement
03 | Creating new system
2.2 Reforming the policies
2.1 Community engagement
2.2 Reforming the policies
Community Participation
A.
Formation of community organization
Latrobe Community Organization - Gunaikurnai traditional owners - local community of Latrobe Valley
B. Collaborative Research - Team conducts research along with the communities - Academic institutions - Interests groups identification of issues and challenges
C. Collaborationg different disciplines of professions and working with community
D. Collaborative Design
Landscape Architect Artists
- development of design options
Engineers Landscape Architect
Different professions
Hydrologists Scientists, Biologists and Ecologists Hydrogeologists Geologists
community design tool
Network of people
E.
Collaborating design
Role of Landscape Architect - integrating design ideas and strategies - presenting to community and local stakeholders - getting plans approved by Victorian Department of Jobs, Precints and Regions (DJPR)
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03 | Creating new system
2.1 Community engagement
03 | Creating new system
2.2 Reforming the policies
2.1 Community engagement
2.2 Reforming the policies
Expansion of Policies
Existing policies
B. Mid 2018 - Earth Resources Regulation Unit
C. Early 2020 - Regulatory practice strategy for Rehabilitation of Earth Resources sites
- formed to manage the Rehabilitation bonds required by Mineral Resources Sustainable development Act (MRSD) 1990
- with an objective to achieve site rehabilitation for mines, quarries and other earth resources
- works with Environment Protection Authority, DELWP, LVRRC
2021
a. Mining Regulation Act 2021
b. New Vision Act 2021
a1. Pre-mining Regulation
- collaboration of mining companies and government organizations with Landscape Architect
- management of top soil cover and native ecosystem before the operation of mining - managing and reviewing the rehabilitation bonds
- making a community organization with a collaborative working approach with government officials and mining companies
- currently reviewing the bond policy to align it with Regulatory practice strategy for Rehabiliation of Earth resources site.
Community inclusion programs
New policies
C1. Department of Job, Precints and Regions (DJPR)
Abandoned mines regulation
- no policy, program and funds to rehabilitate mine sites
Early 2020
Pre- mining and post-mining policies
A. Till 2018 - Earth and Energy Resources (EER)
Mid 2018
Evolution in closure teams Collaboration with Landscape Architect
Expansion of Policies and Programs
Till 2018
- conductiong workshops and events educating the importance of rehabilitation a2. Post-mining Regulation - assess and manage the work in progress of rehabilitation of mine sites with strict rules and providing guidelines a3. Abandones mines Regulation - identify and locate abandoned mines - removing the toxicity and cleaning up of the sites and forming new land use visions with consultation of respective communities of the region
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04 | Conclusion 4.1 Reflections 4.2 Bibliography 4.3 Acknowledgements
84
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04 | Conclusion
4.1 Reflections
4.2 Bibliography
4.3 Acknowledgements
Reflections
04 | Conclusion
4.1 Reflections
4.2 Bibliography
4.3 Acknowledgements
Bibliography
With identification of issues, this design research on Rehabilitation of Hazelwood mine began with ideas of restoration of the entire site. Learning and reflecting on the theories of Jonathan Maskit , it led to new possibilities of dealing with the site i.e. restoration, renovation and transformation. To restore the site and understand the complexity of ecology, learning from scientific theory of Ecologist Richard Hobbs made a new realisation for the design project that Landscape Architects should get their scientific house in order and rather than going against the complexity of nature, we should work along with it.
Daniel Bell (1976), The Coming of the Post-Industrial Society, The Educational Forum, 40:4, 574-579.
While reflecting on theory of Matt Baida on his investigation of role of Landscape Architects in post-mining Landscapes, gives a new vision that it should not only be dealt with technical approach but with multiple perspectives of different professions that allows the site to achieve economic and social aspects benefitting the community giving land back to them.
The State of Victoria Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning 2019. Latrobe Valley and Social history. < https://www.planning.vic.gov.au/data/assets/pdf_ file/0021/466050/LatrobeSocialHistory-WebsiteVersion-updated.pdf >
Post-mining landscapes have their unique elements that should be enhanced rather than transforming it to a new place without any traces of past. Experimentation and testing of ideas in this design research deals with existing unique features of the site renovating the site allowing topography to recreate again with development of phases and acts as a starting point to deal with the micro scale which can be applied at macro scale improving human and non-human habitats strengthening cultural values of the site. Along with site-based approach, it deals with the gap of community inclusion and customizing policies for collaborative participation. Therefore, such sites should not be just restored environmentally but also have positive social and economic impacts after the closure benefitting communities. There is a need of a broader engagement towards dealing with the degraded landscapes where community and different professions are part of it and collectively leading to multiple approaches of ways of working.
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Beckett, Caitlynn, & Keeling, Arn. (2019), Rethinking remediation: mine reclamation, environmental justice, and relations of care. Local Environment, 24(3), 216–230. Pepper, M, Roche, C, & Mudd, G. (2014), Mining legacies understanding life-of-mine across time and space.
Jillian Walliss & Katherine Kok (2014) New interpretative strategies for geotourism: an exploration of two Australian mining sites, Journal of Tourism and Cultural Change, 12:1, 33-49 Urry, J. (2002). Consuming Places: Vol. Taylor & Francis e-Library ed. Routledge. Comp, TA 2013, ‘From environmental liability to community asset: mined land reclamation’, in M Tibbett, AB Fourie & C Digby (eds), Proceedings of the Eighth International Seminar on Mine Closure, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Cornwall, pp. 415-422.
Anonymous2017, Mar 30. VIC: The process from mine to lake at Hazelwood. AAP General News Wire. Slingerland, Neeltje & Baida, Matt & Wilson, Ward. (2014), The great divide between mine closure goals and outcomes, and potential solutions. Slingerland, Neeltje & Baida, Matt & Beier, Nicholas. (2016). An industry self-evaluation on geotechnical mine closure objectives and planning teams. Baida, M. (2014). Healing wounded landscapes. 144, 17–19. Jonathan Maskit. (2009). On the recuperation of postindustrial sites: an aesthetic analysis, Cybergeo : European Journal of Geography [En ligne], Dossiers, document 482 Jonathan Maskit (2007) ‘Line of Wreckage’: Towards a Postindustrial Environmental Aesthetics, Ethics Place and Environment (Ethics, Place & Environment (Merged with Philosophy and Geography)), 10:3, 323-337
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04 | Conclusion
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4.1 Reflections
4.2 Bibliography
4.3 Acknowledgements