The Best Practice Ecological Rehabilitation of Mined Lands Conference is being held this year on 7 April at Civic Centre, Queen Street, Singleton.

 

The University of Newcastle's Tom Farrell Institute organises this event, with the consistent support of the Office of Environment and Heritage, and this year also the NSW Department of Industry.

 

Bringing together miners, rehabilitation practitioners, scientists, governmental regulators and the interested public to share their thinking, experience and learning, the conference also provides ample break times offering delegates splendid networking opportunities.

 

Mine site tours on 8 April will attend local mine sites that have started or completed rehabilitation works (highly recommended by conference participants).

 

Confirmed speakers include Prof Mariola Wrobel, who will present an update on the mine rehabilitation scene in Poland with particular reference to the restoration of opencast lignite mines for forestry, agriculture and water storage. Her research focuses on selection of the best species of trees and shrubs for biological reclamation of such degraded lands.

 

Australian truffle expert Andrew Claridge will present the very important role that soil bacteria and fungi play in the successful establishment of substantial plant communities on mined land. The soil ecosystems that exist pre-mining are greatly diminished and disturbed during mining and storage. Revegetation post-mining is severely compromised if insufficient microorganisms are present to allow the phosphorus and nitrogen cycles to recommence.

 

Other speakers will present their work on mine voids, pit lakes and the evolution of the regulations that govern rehabilitation and mine closure.