From plan to practice: evidence-based verification of mine rehabilitation

Authors: Gimber, C; Foley, C Download Paper Open access courtesy of:

DOI https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/2615_102

Cite As:
Gimber, C & Foley, C 2026, 'From plan to practice: evidence-based verification of mine rehabilitation', in AB Fourie, G Boggs, J Heyes & M Tibbett (eds), Mine Closure 2026: Proceedings of the 19th International Conference on Mine Closure, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 1-11, https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/2615_102



Abstract:
Mine rehabilitation success extends beyond the completion of earthworks and revegetation, it requires systematic documentation and verification to demonstrate conformance with approved designs, regulatory commitments and closure criteria. This paper examines the increasing evidentiary and administrative burden placed on rehabilitation practitioners to demonstrate compliance with rehabilitation commitments. In Queensland, Australia, the progressive rehabilitation and closure plan (PRCP) framework establishes legally binding milestones and sequencing requirements for rehabilitation activities. PRCP schedules are site specific and typically contain numerous criteria across multiple technical domains, resulting in hundreds of individual compliance requirements and thousands of discrete records needed to verify achievement. Managing this volume of data presents significant operational and governance challenges. Drawing on practical experience at Glencore’s Clermont Coal Mine, this paper outlines tools and systems developed to embed PRCP requirements into day-to-day site processes. Key initiatives include integration of PRCP criteria into the site’s inspection and test plan (ITP) framework, providing a structured mechanism for quality control, activity verification and contemporaneous record keeping. Additional evidence sources include time-series aerial imagery to track land disturbance and infrastructure changes, and lidar surveys to assess landform development and erosion performance. A customised rehabilitation tracking system has also been developed to align annual operational plans and budgets with PRCP milestones, enabling transparent reporting and forward planning. This paper presents practical, transferable approaches to managing rehabilitation verification requirements and demonstrates how regulatory commitments can be effectively translated from planning documents into operational practice.

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