In this article:
- Mining commenced at Catherine Hill Bay in 1873 and continued until 2002
- The site has been progressively rehabilitated in accordance with the obligations set out in the approved closure plan, achieving residential land use
- See what score you get for your Rehabilitation and Closure program
Overview
The NSW Resources Regulator is a stand-alone regulator within Regional NSW and is responsible for compliance and enforcement activities across the mining and exploration industry. The Regulator undertakes risk-based compliance and enforcement activities in relation to obligations under the Mining Act 1992. This includes:- conducting assessments and compliance activities to ensure the rehabilitation of mines is undertaken in accordance with the conditions of mining leases and the requirements of the Mining Act 1992
- ensuring that rehabilitation security deposits held by the department cover the full costs in undertaking rehabilitation in the event of default by the mining company
The mine
Catherine Hill Bay is about 30 kilometres south of Newcastle, NSW. Mining commenced in 1873 and continued until 2002, once operations ceased, a large part of the land, including the site, was sold to Catherine Hill Bay Developments Pty Ltd (now known as Coastal Hamlets Pty Ltd). In 2011, development consent was approved by the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure over part of the former mining areas at Catherine Hill Bay. The approved development comprises a 72 hectare residential subdivision of about 540 lots. The domain associated with the former mining operations, and where rehabilitated has now been completed, comprises around 6 hectares of a former coal stockpile area within this approved residential development.The required rehabilitation outcomes
The site has been progressively rehabilitated in accordance with the obligations set out in the approved closure plan. The closure plan requires the title holder to achieve the approved rehabilitation objectives, rehabilitation completion criteria and final landform. This includes establishing a safe, stable and non-polluting landform to support the approved residential subdivision.See what score you get for your Rehabilitation and Closure program
The required rehabilitated outcomes for the site are detailed in the Catherine Hill Bay Coal Preparation and Coal Stockpile Areas mine closure plan approved by the department in June, 2015.
- The 6 hectare site is known as Domain 5A – Snake Gully
- Progressive rehabilitation is continuing over the remaining domains under the oversight of the Regulator
Rehabilitation progress
The progress of mine rehabilitation has been in accordance with the measures outlined in the approved closure plan:- Completion of site contamination and other technical investigations to progress mine rehabilitation closure (including geotechnical and contamination assessments)
- Stakeholder consultation
- Decommissioning and remove of infrastructure
- Implementation of a remedial action plan
- Recovery of fine coal material from the stockpile areas
- Completion of earthworks to reshape the site, to ensure it is in a safe and stable condition
- Erosion controls, re-vegetation and weed management in preparation for future residential development
Rehabilitation completion
In October 2019, Great Southern Energy lodged an application with the Regulator to obtain formal sign-off on the completed rehabilitation works. As part of the application, evidence was provided including contamination remediation reports and as-constructed drawings to demonstrate the rehabilitation was completed. The Regulator carried out an assessment and determined that the rehabilitation obligations were fulfilled to the requisite standard in accordance with the approved closure plan and development consent.How to drive progressive rehabilitation and closure
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=340Weed-sww[/embedyt] Originally published by NSW Resources Regulator.Decipher’s Rehabilitation & Closure Solution
Armed with Decipher’s Rehabilitation & Closure solution, including GIS, remote sensing, monitoring and management tools means you can easily capture and analyse a wide range of environmental monitoring data, manage risks and issues around put backfilling, rapid flooding, slope instability and acid generation, and ensure you’re meeting your environmental obligations and compliance with alerts and notifications of exceedances.Watch this video to find out how to drive progressive rehabilitation and closure
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19RDpq7_R7M[/embedyt]
Want to find out more about mine rehabilitation?
- What is mine rehabilitation and closure?
- What are some key challenges facing mine rehabilitation and closure?
- How much does mine rehabilitation cost?
- What are the advancements in mine rehabilitation technology?
- What are some best practice mine rehabilitation methods?
- How to take a macro and micro approach to mine rehabilitation
- What is CRC-TiME?
- How to become an industry leader in mine rehabilitation
- Download this free Guide to Mine Rehabilitation in Australia
