URANIUM FACTS
8. Rehabilitation
What is rehabilitation?
Rehabilitation means returning the land to its former state after mining has finished.
While it is very hard to restore the land exactly how it was before mining,
rehabilitation attempts to make the land similar to before mining started.
All mining changes the land. Mining companies might dig large holes in the earth or
change the way that rivers and creeks flow. They might build hills with large rocks
and place new buildings and roads on the land.
Rehabilitation may include planting trees and grasses, filling in holes in the ground,
removing buildings and roads and returning the land to its old shape. In the case of
uranium mining, it includes removing any radiation caused by mining.
Mining companies must agree to do this rehabilitation before they start mining. If they
do not agree the government will not let them mine.
Before mining starts, mining companies must also give the government enough
money to do the rehabilitation in case the company goes out of business. This money
is called a bond or a security and is kept by government until the company has done
the rehabilitation.
Before mining starts
Before mining starts the mining company must find out about the land. This helps
them understand what rehabilitation will need to be done. Before mining starts the
company must plan how they are going to mine and how they will rehabilitate the
area once they are finished.
To find out about the land the mining company must talk to Traditional Owners and
anyone else who uses or lives on the land. Scientists will also be sent out to find out
about the land and the animals and plants that live there.
During mining
During mining the company must watch the land carefully to see how they are
changing it. This will help them with rehabilitation. The government will also send
people to watch the land to make sure the mining companies are doing what was
agreed.
Some rehabilitation will happen even during mining. The mining company will fill in
holes and plant trees in places that are no longer being used for mining.
After mining ends
One day the mine will be closed. When this happens the land must be returned to the
way it was before mining started. The mining company will spend many years
returning the land to the way it was. They will fill in holes in the ground, plant more
trees and make sure any chemicals or radiation is removed from the land.
They might bury old equipment, rocks and waste from the mine in the ground where
the mine was.
If the land has lots of radiation it might get in the bush tucker. The mine will work
with Traditional Owners and monitor the radiation levels to make sure the bush tucker
is safe to eat.
Further information:
Australian Uranium Association:
www.aua.org.au
Uranium Council:
www.ret.gov.au/uranium.council
Department of Sustainability, Environment,
Water, Population and Communities:
www.environment.gov.au/epbc
Western Australian Department of Mines and Petroleum:
www.dmp.wa.gov.au
South Australian Department for Manufacturing,
Innovation, Trade, Resources and Energy:
www.dmitre.sa.gov.au
Northern Territory Department of Resources:
www.nt.gov.au/d/