Designing a national water atlas for mining regions: water supply information across the mining life cycle

Authors: Rochford, L; Bolz, P; Samper, A; McIntyre, N; Bulovic, N; Edraki, M; Cote, C Download Paper Open access courtesy of:

DOI https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/2615_70

Cite As:
Rochford, L, Bolz, P, Samper, A, McIntyre, N, Bulovic, N, Edraki, M & Cote, C 2026, 'Designing a national water atlas for mining regions: water supply information across the mining life cycle', 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. 1-9, https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/2615_70



Abstract:
Water is an important consideration for mine closure and post-mining land uses (PMLUs). Access to reliable water supplies can be a critical determinant of mine closure outcomes, influencing factors such as revegetation success, tailings stability and cover system performance. Water availability can also affect the range of PMLUs that can be achieved, including agriculture, renewable energy developments, industrial activities and other productive land uses. Across the mining life cycle, and particularly at closure, some mine sites may hold significant volumes of non-conventional water – such as mine-affected water or water in pit lakes – that could potentially be repurposed for beneficial use by other water users. Yet information on water supply options and entitlement pathways in Australia remains fragmented across jurisdictions, datasets and regulatory systems, and there is currently no platform that connects parties with surplus water to those seeking supply. These challenges are particularly acute for organisations without specialist water expertise, increasing uncertainty during closure planning and regional transition and limiting opportunities for re-use and broader regional benefit. The Australian Water Atlas for Resource Extraction (AWARE) Pilot Project addresses this gap by demonstrating how a national, integrated platform could consolidate information on water sources, access pathways and entitlement requirements, and provide a platform for water sharing. Using the North West Minerals Province in Queensland as a test case, the project reviewed existing datasets and regulatory frameworks, engaged widely with industry, government and water providers, and co-designed a concept-level prototype capable of guiding users through available water supply options. The prototype shows that a water atlas could support mine closure and post-mining transitions by making water options more visible, reducing uncertainty and enabling early identification of opportunities to repurpose non-conventional water sources. Stakeholders expressed strong support for such a tool, noting benefits for investor confidence, regional coexistence, environmental outcomes, and more efficient planning across the mining life cycle.

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