Mine Rehabilitation
Bringing mine sites back to life SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISER PHIL BARNETT SHARES WHY HIS ROLE AT ERIZON OVERSEEING MINE REHABILITATION STRATEGIES IS AS MUCH A PASSION AS IT IS A PROFESSION.
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ine-site rehabilitation is not just a requirement for mining companies, it’s an opportunity to demonstrate their long-term commitment to sustainable development during and after the mining of essential resources. According to the Mineral Council of Australia, Australian mining companies understand land rehabilitation is fundamental to responsible mining. Mining rehabilitation is critical to ongoing community acceptance and a key indicator for corporate reporting. The industry’s approach to land rehabilitation has improved significantly over past decades – an evolution driven by sustained investment in land rehabilitation techniques, evolving corporate values, greater community engagement, and government regulation. While much progress has been made, the industry continues to raise the standards of rehabilitation methods
to ensure mining’s compatibility with current and future land uses. According to dust suppression and environmental experts Erizon, mining results in a major environmental impact that may affect more than the mine site’s immediate surroundings. Revegetating with healthy, sustainable plant species that support existing ecosystems is the most efficient and effective way to exceed remediation requirements. This is where Erizon’s Senior Environmental Adviser Phil Barnett uses his knowledge and experience to assist clients in providing exceptional results. Erizon uses innovative techniques grounded in science to deliver effective, environmentally friendly revegetation, dust suppression and erosion control solutions for Australia’s mining, energy , civil and infrastructure projects. “We rehabilitate land by using the latest technology to ensure the best possible outcomes” Barnett said. “It comes down to understanding the
components of the substrate that we growing vegetation on. There are very few projects we are involved in where we have good quality topsoil. “We are often growing in mine waste or sub-soil materials, and that is where my expertise has really benefited the projects I’m involved in. “My background is in farming, more specifically soil analysis– essentially dedicated to the science behind growing plants in difficult conditions.” With the majority of mining sites located in remote or regional areas, preparing the area to regrow vegetation and establish rehabilitation takes careful planning. “Australian soils are notoriously ancient and very thin, so in most cases there is not a lot of topsoil that is there to be salvaged,” Barnett said. “It is easy to lose a lot of that topsoil in the moving and excavation process. What sets Erizon apart is that we like to undertake a full assessment of what we are growing on and then amend the soil
Mine rehabilitation practices have improved significantly.
SAFETOWORK.COM.AU 26 MAR-APR 2022
