Land
More than 165 hectares of land rehabilitated
Our approach
Coal & Allied is a large land owner in the areas where we operate. While the location of mining is largely dictated by the location of coal seams, environmental and cultural heritage assessments also determine which land is suitable for mining and related activities.
We support the sustainable development of land resources through planning frameworks that consider the values and needs of all land users. Planning should address issues of land use compatibility on a case-by-case basis, so that multiple outcomes can be generated from the same and adjacent land. We work closely with other land users to ensure sustainable, successful use of this important resource.
Over the life of a mine, we develop a range of environmental improvement plans to manage our impact on the land we manage. These plans provide a framework for undertaking rehabilitation and other land management programmes.
Rehabilitation involves reshaping and revegetating land that has been mined to restore the land for future use. Rehabilitation also reduces erosion by limiting the areas of a mine exposed to wind and water.
The rehabilitation process may involve the establishment of erosion control structures, such as contour banks, drainage lines and dams. Each site develops strategies to manage weeds and feral animals.
Rehabilitation and disturbance in 2009
In 2009 a total of 434 hectares of land was disturbed across our sites to enable access to coal and construction of associated infrastructure. This was an increase from 270 hectares disturbed in 2008. Increased land disturbance was largely at Hunter Valley Operations where the establishment of new mining areas required an increase in disturbance.
More than 165 hectares of land was rehabilitated, a decrease from 179 hectares rehabilitated in 2008. As a result our rate of rehabilitation during 2009 reduced to about 40 per cent from about 66 per cent in 2008. This reflects the increased level of activity within our mine leases in New South Wales.
