In recent years an increasing interest has been placed on mining operations to rehabilitate their post-mined lands to a standard that achieves a certain level of ecological recognisability and function.

Recently, Travis Peake, our National Ecology Lead, wrote this report in collaboration with Trish Robinson, Belinda Howe and James Garnham of Umwelt, after a project was undertaken in collaboration with NSW Department of Planning, Industry, and Environment (DPIE), focusing on determining if mine rehabilitation can form a self-sustainable, recognised vegetation community using the NSW Hunter Valley as a case study.

The ACARP report is available to view here.

In SIA practice, and in developing a sound social baseline for a project, it's always important to understand the history of development within a community.

Recently, Dr Sheridan Coakes, our National Social Practice Lead, hosted a webinar focused on the application of the new SIA Guideline in NSW. The webinar featured a panel of government and industry experts, including: Dr Richard Parsons (DPIE), who shared with us the intentions of the Guideline.

A recording of the webinar is available for you to watch here and the report is available here.