United Wambo Rehabilitation Management Plan 2020 2022
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United Wambo Joint Venture
Plan United Wambo Rehabilitation Management Plan – 2020 - 2022
United Wambo Rehabilitation
Management Plan – 2020 - 2022
Number: ID Status: Final Effective:
Owner: Environment & Community Manager Version: 1.1 Review:
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United Wambo Joint Venture
Plan United Wambo Rehabilitation Management Plan – 2020 - 2022
United Wambo Project
Rehabilitation Management Plan
Name of Mine United Wambo Project – Phase 2
RMP Commencement Date 1 December 2020
RMP Completion Date 31 December 2022
Mining Authorisations (Lease/Licence No.) CCL775, ML1572, CL374, ML1574. CL397, ML1402,
CCL743
Name of Authorisation / Authorisation Construction Forestry Maritime, Mining and Energy
holder(s) Union Mining and Energy Division
Wambo Coal Pty Limited
Name of Mine Operator (if different) United Collieries Pty Ltd
Name and Contact Details of the Mine Name: Gary Wills
Manager (or equivalent)
Title: Operations Manager, United Wambo Joint
Venture
Ph: 0429 900 814
Email: gary.wills@glencore.com.au
Name and Contact Details of Environmental Name: Aislinn Farnon
Representative
Title: Environment and Community Manager,
United Wambo Joint Venture
Ph: 6578 9526
Email: Aislinn.Farnon@glencore.com.au
Name of Representative(s) of the Name: Gary Wills
Authorisation Holder(s)
Title: Operations Manager, United Wambo Joint
Venture
Ph: 0429 900 814
Email: gary.wills@glencore.com.au
Signature of Representative(s) of the
Authorisation Holder(s)
Date 6 November 2020
Version Version 1
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Table of Contents
1. Introduction .......................................................................................................... 6
2. Background ........................................................................................................... 7
3. History of Operations ............................................................................................ 9
3.1 United Mine ............................................................................................................................... 9
3.2 Wambo Mine ............................................................................................................................. 9
4. Project Description .............................................................................................. 11
4.1 Phase 1 ..................................................................................................................................... 11
4.1.1 Phase 1A ...................................................................................................................... 11
4.1.2 Phase 1B ...................................................................................................................... 11
4.2 Phase 2 ..................................................................................................................................... 11
5. Current Consents, Authorisations and Licences .................................................... 14
6. Land Ownership and Land Use ............................................................................. 16
6.1 Historic ..................................................................................................................................... 16
6.2 Current ..................................................................................................................................... 16
6.3 Final Land Use .......................................................................................................................... 16
7. Integration with Other Management Plans .......................................................... 17
8. Final Land Use ..................................................................................................... 18
8.1 Regulatory Requirements for Rehabilitation ........................................................................... 18
8.2 Approved Final Land Use.......................................................................................................... 24
8.3 Final Land Use Statement ........................................................................................................ 25
8.3.1 Ecological Rehabilitation ............................................................................................. 25
8.3.2 Native Open Woodland Vegetation ............................................................................ 26
8.4 Justification for the Proposed Final Land Use .......................................................................... 26
8.5 Stakeholder Consultation ......................................................................................................... 27
8.6 Mining and Final Land Use Domains ........................................................................................ 27
8.6.1 Mining Domains .......................................................................................................... 28
8.6.2 Final Land Use Domains .............................................................................................. 30
8.6.3 Asset Register .............................................................................................................. 31
8.7 Mine Closure Planning ............................................................................................................. 34
9. Rehabilitation Objectives and Completion Criteria ............................................... 35
9.1 Rehabilitation Objectives ......................................................................................................... 35
9.1.1 Development Consent Requirements ......................................................................... 35
9.1.2 EIS Rehabilitation Requirements ................................................................................. 36
9.1.3 Domain Rehabilitation Objectives............................................................................... 37
9.2 Completion Criteria .................................................................................................................. 39
9.3 Stakeholder Consultation ......................................................................................................... 59
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9.3.1 Agency Consultation.................................................................................................... 59
9.3.2 Community Consultation ............................................................................................ 60
10. Final Landform and Rehabilitation Plan................................................................ 61
11. Rehabilitation Risk Assessment............................................................................ 62
12. Rehabilitation Implementation ............................................................................ 63
12.1 Life of Mine Progressive Rehabilitation Schedule.................................................................... 63
12.2 Rehabilitation Phases and General Methodologies ................................................................. 64
12.2.1 Rehabilitation Phase 1 – Active Mining....................................................................... 65
12.2.2 Rehabilitation Phase 2 – Decommissioning ................................................................ 70
12.2.3 Rehabilitation Phase 3 – Landform Establishment ..................................................... 73
12.2.4 Rehabilitation Phase 4 – Growth Medium Development ........................................... 75
12.2.5 Rehabilitation Phase 5 – Ecosystem and Land Use Establishment ............................. 76
12.2.6 Rehabilitation Phase 6 – Ecosystem and Land Use Development .............................. 76
12.3 Rehabilitation of Areas Affected by Subsidence ...................................................................... 77
13. Rehabilitation Quality Assurance Process............................................................. 78
13.1 Rehabilitation Validation Methodologies ................................................................................ 78
13.1.1 Rehabilitation Phase 1 – Active Mining....................................................................... 78
13.1.2 Rehabilitation Phase 2 – Decommissioning ................................................................ 78
13.1.3 Rehabilitation Phase 3 – Landform Establishment ..................................................... 78
13.1.4 Rehabilitation Phase 4 – Growth Medium Establishment .......................................... 78
13.1.5 Rehabilitation Phase 5 – Ecosystem and Land Use Establishment ............................. 79
13.1.6 Rehabilitation Phase 6 – Ecosystem and Land Use Development .............................. 79
13.2 Review and Continuous Improvement .................................................................................... 79
14. Rehabilitation Monitoring Program ..................................................................... 81
14.1 Rehabilitation Establishment Monitoring ................................................................................ 81
14.1.1 Rehabilitation Flora Monitoring .................................................................................. 81
14.1.2 Annual Walkover Inspections ...................................................................................... 81
14.1.3 Scientific Plots and Transects ...................................................................................... 82
14.1.4 Habitat Assessment ..................................................................................................... 83
14.2 Measuring Performance Against Rehabilitation Objectives and Completion Criteria............. 83
15. Research, Rehabilitation Trials and Use of Analogue Sites .................................... 84
15.1 Rehabilitation Trials ................................................................................................................. 84
15.2 Analogue Sites/Benchmark Sites ............................................................................................. 84
16. Intervention and Adaptive Management ............................................................. 85
16.1 Threats to Rehabilitation ......................................................................................................... 85
16.2 Trigger Action Response Plan................................................................................................... 86
16.3 Notification............................................................................................................................... 90
17. Review and Implementation ................................................................................ 91
17.1 Review of the Rehabilitation Management Plan ..................................................................... 91
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17.2 Implementation ....................................................................................................................... 91
18. Document Information ........................................................................................ 93
18.1 Related Documents .................................................................................................................. 93
18.2 Reference Information ............................................................................................................. 93
18.3 Change Information ................................................................................................................. 94
19. Accountabilities ................................................................................................... 95
Appendix A - SSD 7142.................................................................................................... 96
Appendix B - Stakeholder Consultation ........................................................................... 97
Appendix C - RMP Risk Management ............................................................................ 101
Appendix D - Decommissioning and Demolition Plan .................................................... 102
Appendix E - Capping Design for Tailings Dam 1 and 2 United Collieries (PSM 2020) ...... 103
Appendix F - Plans ........................................................................................................ 104
Figures
Figure 2-1: Locality Plan ......................................................................................................................... 8
Figure 4-1: Site Layout ......................................................................................................................... 13
Tables
Table 5-1: Approvals Related to the Project ........................................................................................ 14
Table 7-1: Management Plans ............................................................................................................. 17
Table 8-1: Regulatory Requirements Relating to Post Mining Land Use and Rehabilitation .............. 18
Table 8-2: Proposed Ecological Rehabilitation..................................................................................... 25
Table 8-3: Mining and Final Land Use Domains ................................................................................... 28
Table 8-4: United Wambo ProjectMining Domains ............................................................................. 28
Table 8-5: United Wambo Project Final Land Use Domains ................................................................ 30
Table 8-6: Asset Register ..................................................................................................................... 31
Table 9-1: SSD 7142 Condition B97, Table 6 ........................................................................................ 35
Table 9-2: Overall Domain Objectives.................................................................................................. 37
Table 9-3: Infrastructure to be Removed............................................................................................. 41
Table 9-4: Infrastructure to Remain..................................................................................................... 43
Table 9-5: General Rehabilitation Management.................................................................................. 45
Table 9-6: Ecological Rehabilitation 1, 2 and 3 .................................................................................... 50
Table 9-7: Native Vegetation Rehabilitation (Non EEC/CEEC) ............................................................. 56
Table 9-8: Agricultural Rehabilitation .................................................................................................. 58
Table 9-9: Government Agency Consultation for the RMP ................................................................. 59
Table 12-1: Disturbance and Rehabilitation Progression During the Term of the RMP ...................... 63
Table 12-2: Rehabilitation Phases ........................................................................................................ 64
Table 12-3: Summary of Rehabilitation Phase Completion in the RMP Term ..................................... 65
Table 16-1: Key Threats to Rehabilitation ............................................................................................ 85
Table 16-2: Trigger Action Response Plan ........................................................................................... 87
Table 17-1: Responsibilities for the Implementation of this RMP ....................................................... 91
Table 18-1: Related Documents ........................................................................................................... 93
Table 18-2: Reference Information ...................................................................................................... 93
Table 19-1: Accountabilities for this Plan ............................................................................................ 95
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1. Introduction
This Rehabilitation Management Plan (RMP) has been prepared to define the rehabilitation activities,
objectives and outcomes for the United Wambo Open Cut Coal Mine Project (the Project).
This RMP has been prepared to satisfy the relevant requirements for a Rehabilitation Management
Plan in accordance with Part B Condition B103 of Development Consent SSD 7142 and anticipated
Mining Lease (ML) conditions. This RMP has been prepared generally in accordance with the
NSW Department of Planning and Environment – Resources Regulator’s (DPIE–RR) Consultation Draft
Code of Practice: Rehabilitation Management Plan for Large Mines (2018) (Draft RMP Guidelines) and
associated guidelines. There have been some changes to the structure of this RMP compared to the
Code of Practice based on:
The status of the Project;
United’s interpretation of the DPIE - RR Code of Practice; and
The requirement to fulfil the requirements of SSD 7142.
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2. Background
United Collieries Pty Ltd (United) is owned 95 per cent by Abelshore Pty Limited, a wholly owned
subsidiary of Glencore Coal Pty Limited (Glencore) and five per cent by the Construction, Forestry,
Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (CFMMEU), and is managed by Glencore. Wambo Coal Pty Limited
(Wambo) is a subsidiary of Peabody Energy Australia Pty Limited (Peabody).
In November 2014, Glencore and Peabody agreed to form a 50:50 Joint Venture to develop an open
cut coal mine project that combines existing open cut operations at Wambo with a new open cut mine
at United, located approximately 16 kilometres west of Singleton in the Hunter Valley region of New
South Wales (NSW) (Figure 2-1).. This is the most recent example of a long history of collaboration
between these companies, following previous coal lease agreements, shared water management
systems, rail loading and rail loop facilities. Glencore manages the combined open cut mining
operations utilising Wambo's existing infrastructure. Peabody continues to operate the Wambo
Underground, the Coal Handling and Preparation Plant (CHPP) and rail facilities.
A Development Application and accompanying Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the United
Wambo Open Cut Coal Mine Project (the Project) was submitted to the Department of Planning and
Environment (DPIE) on 8 August 2016 and put on public exhibition from 11 August to 22 September
2016. During 2017, a Response to Submissions report was prepared addressing the public and
government agency submissions made on the EIS. On 12 December 2017, DPIE released the
Preliminary Environmental Assessment Report on the Project and the Project was referred to the
Planning Assessment Commission (PAC) (now the Independent Planning Commission (IPC)) to carry
out a review of the merits of the Project and to conduct a public hearing during the review. The public
hearing was held on 8 February 2018.
The IPC issued its Review Report on 26 March 2018 and a Response to the IPC Review Report was
submitted by United Wambo in July 2018. DPIE completed the Final Assessment Report and referred
the Project for determination to the IPC in November 2018. The IPC held a public meeting on
7 February 2019. Further information on the Project can be found on the NSW Major Projects website
or the IPC website.
SSD 7142 was approved on 29 August 2019. The Development Consent is attached as Appendix A - SSD
7142.
The Project is to be undertaken in the following stages:
Phase 1A – construction works at United open cut mine;
Phase 1B – continuation of construction works and commencement of mining operations at
United open cut mine;
Phase 2 – mining operations at the United open cut mine and Wambo open cut mine; and
Phase 3 – the cessation of open cut mining operations and mine closure.
Further details on the activities undertaken in each Phase is provided in Section 4.
This RMP describes the proposed rehabilitation activities under SSD 7142 for the first two years of
Phase 2 of the Project for the term (1 November 2020 to 31 December 2022). Activities under DA
305-7-2003 and DA 177-8-2004, including mining in the Wambo UG and operation of the Wambo
CHPP, are managed under the Wambo Mining Operations Plan (MOP)/RMP.
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Figure 2-1: Locality Plan
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3. History of Operations
3.1 United Mine
Development consent for coal mining at the United site was originally granted in the early 1980s.
From July 1989 until July 1992, United comprised an open cut and auger mining operation extracting
from the Whynot and Wambo seams. Underground mining operations at the mine commenced in
1992, continuing until March 2010 when operations were suspended with the mine entering a period
of care and maintenance. At the time mining ceased, underground longwall mining operations at
United were approved to provide up to 2.95 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) of product coal.
Exploration and pre-feasibility works were commenced to determine the potential for future mining
activities within United’s mining tenements. Ongoing exploration has identified substantial reserves
of coal suitable for open cut mining.
Prior to the demolition occurring in March 2020, United had a CHPP at the site which was capable of
washing ROM coal from the underground operation for delivery to the export market. From 1989
until 2006, product coal was transported from United by road along the Golden Highway to the Mount
Thorley Coal Loader. Following the construction of the Wambo rail spur and loop in 2006, product
coal from United was transported via the Wambo train loading facility, which subsequently allowed
for the removal of United’s coal haulage trucks from the Golden Highway.
Following approval of SSD 7142, Phase 1A of the Project commenced on 6 January 2020. Mining
commenced in July 2020 within the United Open Cut and was managed by Glencore on behalf of the
Joint Venture.
3.2 Wambo Mine
A range of open cut and underground mining operations have been conducted at Wambo since mining
operations commenced in 1969. Mining under the current Wambo mine development consent
commenced in 2004. The combined Wambo underground and open cut operations have approval to
extract up to 14.7 Mtpa ROM coal and to transport up to 15 Mtpa product coal via the approved train
loading facility until 2025.
The current approved Wambo Open Cut is authorised to produce up to 8 Mtpa of ROM coal. The open
cut is bordered by United and the Golden Highway to the east and north, Wollombi Brook to the east
and south, and Wollemi National Park to the west.
Wambo has four approved underground mining operations, being:
North Wambo Underground Mine (commenced 2005 and now completed);
South Bates Underground Mine (commenced 2014 and currently operational);
Arrowfield Underground Mine (not yet commenced); and
Bowfield Underground Mine (not yet commenced).
At present, Wambo is extracting ROM coal from the South Bates Underground Mine and has sufficient
resources and underground approvals to continue mining at approved rates until 1 March 2032.
ROM coal from the Wambo mining operations is delivered to the Wambo CHPP for processing.
Product coal from Wambo’s operations is conveyed from the CHPP to the Wambo train loading facility.
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An average of four trains is loaded each day, with a maximum of six trains per day being loaded during
peak coal transport periods.
Wambo operates up to 24 hours per day, seven days per week.
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4. Project Description
4.1 Phase 1
During Phase 1 of the Project, United was responsible for activities undertaken under SSD 7142
whereas Wambo retained responsibility for the current Wambo open cut and underground
operations.
The current approved Wambo MOP will remain in place until Phase 2.
Phase 1 was undertaken in two stages – Phase 1A and Phase 1B, as described in SSD 7142.
4.1.1 Phase 1A
Phase 1A included the following activities:
salvage of Aboriginal artefacts in accordance with an approved Aboriginal Cultural Heritage
Management Plan;
clearing of vegetation to facilitate construction activities in accordance with an approved
Biodiversity Management Plan;
construction and use of the Construction Infrastructure Areas (CIA) in accordance with the
Construction Environmental Management Plan;
upgrades to the Mine Infrastructure Area (MIA) at Wambo, including the construction of a new
workshop, fuel farm, administration offices and carpark;
construction of water management infrastructure including dams, drains and pipelines in
accordance with an approved Water Management Plan;
installation of erosion and sediment control devices in accordance with an approved Erosion and
Sediment Control Management Plan;
construction of the 330kV, 66kV, 11kV power lines;
construction of the Golden Highway realignment;
development of the United open cut starter pit, including the blasting of material;
construction of mine haul roads and access roads from mine spoil won from the starter pit; and
installation of lighting to allow operations 24 hours per day, seven days per week.
4.1.2 Phase 1B
Phase 1B, included the following activities:
continuation of Phase 1A activities; and
commencement of mining in United, which will include the emplacement of overburden into the
emplacement areas and the stockpiling of ROM coal.
4.2 Phase 2
Phase 2 when United Open Cut deliver first coal to Wambo CHPP and both the United and Wambo
open cuts will be operated by the United Wambo Joint Venture under SSD 7142. In Phase 2, Wambo
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underground operations will operate under DA 305-7-2003 MOD 16 and the CHPP will operated under
177-8-2004 MOD 3. Wambo have amended the approved MOP and environmental management
plans to remove the open cut operations.
Figure 4-1 shows which elements of the United Wambo operations are included in this RMP document
in Phase 2.
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Figure 4-1: Site Layout
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5. Current Consents, Authorisations and Licences
Leases, licences and approvals that regulate operations at the Project are listed in Table 5-1.
Table 5-1: Approvals Related to the Project
Regulatory
Instrument Date of Issue Expiry Date Comments
Authority
Approvals
Department of SSD 7142 29 August 2019 31 August 2042 United Wambo Open Cut
Planning and Project State Approval
Environment
(DPIE)
Department of EPBC Pending Pending United Wambo Open Cut
Environment Approval Project Federal Approval is
and Energy still pending at the time of
this RMP
EPBC 2004 31 December 2029 Open cut and underground
2003/138 operations, CHPP and train
loading facilities at Wambo
Leases
Resources CCL 775 2 September 1992 2 March 2033 Held by the CFMEU on
Regulator behalf of United
ML1572 21 December 2005 21 December 2026 Held by Wambo
CL374 6 December 1991 21 March 2026 Held by Wambo, part area
included in this RMP
ML1594 1 May 2007 30 April 2028 Held by Wambo, part area
included in this RMP
CL397 4 June 1992 4 June 2034 Held by Wambo, part area
included in this RMP
ML1402 23 September 14 August 2022 Held by Wambo, part area
1996 included in this RMP
CCL743 9 March 1990 14 August 2022 Held by Wambo, part area
included in this RMP
EL 8452 8 August 2016 8 August 2019 Held by the CFMEU on
behalf of United
EL 8456 8 August 2016 8 August 2021 Held by United
Licences
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Regulatory
Instrument Date of Issue Expiry Date Comments
Authority
Environment EPL 3141 30 November 1999 Anniversary Date: United
Protection 30 November
Authority (EPA)
Department of WAL 14 March 2008 13 March 2023 Redbank Creek Bywash
Industry (DoI) 18445 pump – Industrial
Water
WAL 1 January 2007 Perpetuity Hunter River Pump – Water
10541 Supply
WAL 5 November 2007 19 November 2022 Wollombi Brook Pump –
18549 Industrial
WAL 1 July 2016 Perpetuity Groundwater Extraction
41510 Licence
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6. Land Ownership and Land Use
6.1 Historic
The Project Area is situated in a landscape that is characterised by mining land, grazing land, more
intensive agriculture on the Hunter River alluvial zone (cropping and dairying) and some private and
public woodland. The land to the north and north-east of the Project Area is occupied by Hunter Valley
Operations (HVO) coal mine (HVO South), and further to the north by agricultural land.
6.2 Current
The area south of the Project Area is Wambo-owned grazing land. Land to the east of the Project Area
is privately owned by the Hunter Valley Gliding Club, surrounded by HVO-owned mining buffer land.
To the immediate west of the Project Area is land owned by Wambo which is also utilised for grazing.
Wollemi National Park is located approximately 0.5 kilometres west of the Project Area at its closest
point to the western boundary of the Project Area. Wollemi National Park is also part of the
Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area.
United and Wambo own the majority of freehold land within the Project Area other than road reserves
and an area of Crown land. United’s land interests in the area are held by the CFMEU on behalf of
United.
Land ownership and land use are shown on Plan 1, with a Schedule of Lands located within the Project
Area presented in the Project Approval Appendix A - SSD 7142.
A large proportion of the Project Area has been impacted by a combination of past mining operations,
associated mining infrastructure, existing rehabilitation, infrastructure corridors and past agricultural
clearing. Substantial areas of regenerating remnant vegetation are also present within the Project
Area. The Project Area contains large areas of cleared and disturbed land, and native vegetation
communities providing woodland, riparian, shrubland and grassland habitat and rehabilitated
communities. Farm dams and ephemeral watercourses, which are typically dry, provide drinking
water for fauna species.
6.3 Final Land Use
The proposed final land use is discussed in detail in Section 8.
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7. Integration with Other Management Plans
The management of rehabilitation at United Wambo is integrated across the environmental
management system. The key management plans and how they are connected to this RMP are
detailed in Table 7-1.
Table 7-1: Management Plans
Management Plan SSD 7142 Condition Relationship to the RMP
Rehabilitation Condition B100 The Rehabilitation Strategy and the RMP both detail
Strategy the implementation of rehabilitation outcomes in
Table 6 of SSD 7142. The intent of the Rehabilitation
Strategy is to set the strategic direction and outcomes
for rehabilitation of the mine. The Rehabilitation
Management Plan defines how the rehabilitation of
the site will achieve the objectives required by SSD
7142. While both plans are closely linked, the
Rehabilitation Strategy incorporates a longer time
period than the RMP with the provision to review and
refine the final landform and final void outcomes every
five years, in consultation with the Resources
Regulator and Council.
Biodiversity Condition B71 The Biodiversity Management Plan provides details
Management Plan on the measures to be implemented to manage
impacts to biodiversity and rehabilitation at
United Wambo.
The Biodiversity Management Plan provides details
on the proposed Offset Strategy for the Project,
including further details on the Ecological
Rehabilitation proposed in this plan.
Erosion and Sediment Condition B52 (e) (iii) The Erosion and Sediment Control Plan provides
Control Plan details on the measures to be implemented at
United Wambo to minimise soil erosion and the
potential for the transport of sediment to
downstream waters, including on rehabilitation.
Surface Water Condition B52 (e) (iv) The Surface Water Management Plan outlines to
Management Plan process to identify and manage impacts to surface
water, including impacts relating to surface water
flows from rehabilitation areas.
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8. Final Land Use
8.1 Regulatory Requirements for Rehabilitation
A summary of all known regulatory requirements for post mining land use and rehabilitation for the
Project are listed in Table 8-1.
Table 8-1: Regulatory Requirements Relating to Post Mining Land Use and Rehabilitation
Section
Condition Requirement Area Reference/
Comment
SSD 7142
Condition The Applicant must rehabilitate the site to the Entire site Section 9
B97 satisfaction of the Resources Regulator. This
rehabilitation must be generally consistent with the
proposed rehabilitation activities described in the
document/s listed in condition A2(c) (and shown
conceptually in the figure in Appendix 8 (Plan 4) and
comply with the objectives in Table 6.
Condition The Applicant must rehabilitate the site progressively, Entire site Section 12
B98 that is, as soon as reasonably practicable following
Plan 4 and
disturbance. All reasonable steps must be taken to
Plan 5a and
minimise the total area exposed at any time. Interim
5b
stabilisation and temporary vegetation strategies must
be employed when areas prone to dust generation, soil
erosion and weed incursion cannot be permanently
rehabilitated.
Note: This condition does not prevent further
disturbance at some later stage of the development of
areas that have been rehabilitated.
Condition The Applicant must prepare a Rehabilitation
B103 Management Plan for the development to the
satisfaction of DRG. This plan must:
a) be prepared by a suitably qualified and experienced - Chris Jones
person/s; from SLR has
assisted with
the
development
of the draft
RMP. Chris
Jones left SLR
on 31 July
prior to it
being
finalised.
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Section
Condition Requirement Area Reference/
Comment
b) be prepared in consultation with the Department, Entire site Section 9.3
DPIE Water, BCD and Council;
c) be prepared in accordance with any relevant DRG Entire site Entire
Guideline; document
d) describe how the rehabilitation of the site would Entire Site Not Required
achieve the objectives identified in Table 7 the until Phase 2
outcomes described in the Rehabilitation Strategy
referred to in condition B100 and be integrated
with the measures in the Biodiversity Management
Plan referred to in condition B71;
e) include detailed mine plan and final landform Entire site Figures 2-1
designs; and 4-1
Plans 1-5
f) include detailed plans for the establishment of: Future Section 9.2
rehabilitation
i. Ecological Mine Rehabilitation under condition Section 13
areas
B61;
ii. Open Woodland Revegetation under condition
B69; and
iii. other rehabilitated native woodland areas and
grassland areas,
which include detailed performance and completion
criteria for evaluating rehabilitation success for these
communities and the establishment of land capability in
grassland areas;
g) include a protocol for regular reviews to Entire site Section 13
demonstrate that rehabilitation of the vegetation
Section 14
communities listed under paragraph f) is on target
to be achieved, and for triggering any necessary Section 16
remedial action;
h) describe the measures to be implemented to Entire site Entire
ensure compliance with the relevant conditions of document
this consent, and address all aspects of
rehabilitation including mine closure, final landform
(including final voids), final land use/s and water
management in the final landform;
i) include procedures for the use of interim Infrastructur Section
stabilisation and temporary vegetation strategies, e areas 12.2.1.4
where reasonable, to minimise the area exposed
for dust generation;
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Plan United Wambo Rehabilitation Management Plan – 2020 - 2022
Section
Condition Requirement Area Reference/
Comment
j) include a program to monitor, independently audit Entire site Section 14
and report on the effectiveness of the measures in
paragraph h), and progress against the detailed
performance and completion criteria in paragraph
g);
k) to the maximum extent practicable, build on and Noted Section 7
integrate with the other management plans
required under this consent; and
l) include detailed scheduling for progressive Noted Plan 4 and 5
rehabilitation to be initiated, undertaken and/or
New RMP
completed over the next three years.
proposed for
Phase 2 in late
2020 which
will cover a
longer RMP
period
Condition The Applicant must not commence Phase 1B until the Entire Site Section 17.2
B104 Rehabilitation Management Plan is approved by the
DRG.
Condition The Applicant must implement the Rehabilitation Entire Site This
B105 Management Plan as approved by DRG. document
Notes:
The Resources Regulator may permit the Rehabilitation
Management Plan to be combined with a Mining
Operations Plan, or similar plan, required under any
mining lease granted for the development
Condition At least five years prior to the planned cessation of Entire Site Noted. Not
B106 mining operations, the Applicant must prepare a Mine required until
Closure Plan for the development to the satisfaction of five years
the Planning Secretary. This plan must: from closure.
Section 8.7
a) be prepared in consultation with DRG and Council;
b) integrate final rehabilitation and mine closure
requirements with those of the Wambo Mining
Complex;
c) include a final land use strategy to investigate
potential post-mining beneficial land uses for the
site (including the final voids), that:
i. align with local strategic planning instruments;
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Section
Condition Requirement Area Reference/
Comment
ii. provide a sustainable future for the local
community;
iii. utilise existing mining infrastructure, where
practicable; and
iv. do not compromise ecological rehabilitation
requirements,
d) investigate ways to minimise the adverse socio-
economic effects associated with mine closure,
including reduction in local employment levels; and
e) describe the measures that would be implemented
to minimise or manage the ongoing environmental
effects of the project and describe how the
performance of these measures would be
monitored over time.
Condition The Applicant must implement the Mine Closure Plan Section 8.7
B107 as approved by the Planning Secretary.
Consolidated Coal Lease 775
CCL775 Any disturbance resulting from the activities carried out Entire Site Overall RMP
Condition 2 under this mining lease must be rehabilitated to the document
satisfaction of the Minister.
CCL775 a) The lease holder must comply with an approved Entire Site This is an RMP
Condition 3 Mining Operations Plan (MOP) in carrying out any
Section 8.6
significant surface disturbing activities, including
and
mining operations, mining purposes and
Section 10
prospecting. The lease holder must apply to the
Minister for approval of a MOP. An approved MOP RMP prepared
must be in place prior to commencing any in accordance
significant surface disturbing activities, including with Draft
mining operations, mining purposes and Code of
prospecting. Practice
b) The MOP must identify the post mining land use Noted
and set out a detailed rehabilitation strategy Noted
which:
Annual
i. identifies areas that will be disturbed; Review
ii. details the staging of specific mining summarises
operations, mining purposes and prospecting; rehabilitation
iii. identifies how the mine will be managed and
rehabilitated to achieve the post mining land
use;
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Section
Condition Requirement Area Reference/
Comment
iv. identifies how mining operations, mining
purposes and prospecting will be carried out in
order to prevent and or minimise harm to the
environment; and
v. reflects the conditions of approval under:
- the Environmental Planning and
Assessment Act 1979;
- the Protection of the Environment
Operations Act 1997; and
- any other approvals relevant to the
development including the conditions of
this mining lease.
c) The MOP must be prepared in accordance with the
ESG3: Mining Operations Plan (MOP) Guidelines
September 2013 published on the Department's
website at
www.resources.nsw.gov.au/environment
d) The lease holder may apply to the Minister to
amend an approved MOP at any time.
e) It is not a breach of this condition if:
i. the operations which, but for this condition 3(e)
would be a breach of condition 3(a), were
necessary to comply with a lawful order or
direction given under the Environmental
Planning and Assessment Act 1979, the
Protection of the Environment Operations Act
1997, the Mine Health and Safety Act 2004 /
Coal Mine Health and Safety Act 2002 and Mine
Health and Safety Regulation 2007 I Coal Mine
Health and Safety Regulation 2006 or the Work
Health and Safety Act 2011; and
ii. the Minister had been notified in writing of the
terms of the order or direction prior to the
operations constituting the breach being
carried out.
f) The lease holder must prepare a Rehabilitation
Report to the satisfaction of the Minister. The
report must:
i. provide a detailed review of the progress of
rehabilitation against the performance
measures and criteria established in the
approved MOP;
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Section
Condition Requirement Area Reference/
Comment
ii. be submitted annually on the grant anniversary
date (or at such other times as agreed by the
Minister); and
iii. be prepared in accordance with any relevant
annual reporting guidelines published on the
Department's website
atwww.resources.nsw.gov.au/environment.
Note: The Rehabilitation Report replaces the Annual
Environmental Management Report.
Tailings Dam Approvals
2008 Rehabilitation of the site will be commensurate with Tailings To be capped
Section 100 the objectives of the accepted Mining Operations Plan. Dam 2 and
Approval rehabilitated.
Condition 4
Capping is
planning to
commence in
late 2020.
2005 Section 127 of the Coal Mines Regulation Act, 1982 is Tailings To be capped
Section 126 required to be complied with. This application will Dam 2 and
Approval address decommissioning activities over “Emplacement rehabilitated.
Condition Area 1”
Capping is
(e)
planning to
commence in
late 2020.
Prescribed Dams
Tailings Dams Safety NSW are to be notified prior to Prior to Dam Safety
Dam 2 decommissioning commencing. decommissio NSW have
ning Tailings been notified
Following completion of the filling and capping of the
Dam 2 that capping is
dam, submit an application to Dam Safety NSW to de-
commencing.
list the dams as ‘prescribed’ under Schedule 1 of the
Dams Safety Act 1978. The application will require an
‘as-constructed’ drawing prepared by a suitably
qualified engineer, which demonstrates that the dam
has been adequately decommissioned and that it no
longer constitutes a dam.
CCL775 requires the preparation of a Mining Operations Plan (MOP). United Wambo believe this RMP
document meets the requirements of CCL775.
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8.2 Approved Final Land Use
The approved final land use for the Project Area is native woodland areas with areas of agricultural
use (included in response to community feedback). A key consideration is the existing requirements
for revegetation of the Wambo mining area imposed by the Wambo mine development consent and
EPBC Controlled Action Approval 2003/1138 (1570 ha) that need to be met. These existing
requirements have been incorporated into the Project final land use plan as well as utilising mine
rehabilitation for offsetting requirements (up to 878 ha). The substantial existing Wambo approval
requirements when combined with the proposed biodiversity offsetting outcomes for the Project limit
the area available for alternative future land uses. The remaining areas are proposed for agricultural
land (125 ha) and were included in response to community input which requested prioritisation of
agricultural land where practical, possible and sustainable.
The indicative final voids, final landform and land use were consulted on during the assessment phase
and were the subject of a community workshop. The feedback from these stakeholder engagement
processes influenced the final landform considerations and the closure commitments. This included
feedback on aspects such as:
The balance between biodiversity offset requirements, woodland areas and land for agricultural
purposes as part of the final land use and revegetation plan;
The desire to minimise the number and size of the final voids, where practicable;
The desire for the incorporation of natural landform design principles into the design of the final
landform for the Project.
The rehabilitated area will provide native vegetation corridors linking surrounding remnant vegetation
areas, including future vegetation areas planned on rehabilitated mining land to the north and east.
Key linkages will include:
From the Wollemi National Park through the Project Area to the proposed native rehabilitation
areas of HVO South mine to the north; and
To the northeast of the Project Area, through to the proposed native rehabilitation area of the
Warkworth mine to the southeast of the Project Area.
Several ancillary land use options that are complimentary to the proposed native
vegetation/conservation and agricultural land uses have been identified. The potentially viable land
use options that have been previously identified include:
Industrial uses, particularly in consideration of the availability of the rail loop, as well as the
suitability of infrastructure associated with the workshop, office complex and other surface
facilities including water management structures;
Adventure tourism and recreation;
Aquaculture; and
Pumped-storage hydroelectricity.
The options above have been identified as potentially suitable ancillary land uses but are not currently
proposed.
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In addition, the Project Area may have some value in terms of future mining operations. The Project
Area is located in an area dominated by existing mining operations and with surrounding exploration
licence areas that may have potential for future mining operations. The Project Area includes the
following key values that could be beneficial for any nearby future mining operation:
Coal processing infrastructure;
Established water/storage and management;
Tailings storage facilities;
Access to road and rail transport;
Electricity and communication infrastructure; and
Accessibility to skilled mining/heavy engineering workforce.
While not proposed, it is recognised that the Project Area may provide an opportunity to support
other future mining operations within the local area.
Discussion of the feasibility of delivering the ancillary land options and potential future mining
opportunities is provided in the Response to the IPC Review Report which can be downloaded from
the NSW Major Project website: https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/major-
projects/project/25271.
It is noted that economic feasibility cannot be assessed at this time as it will depend on the economic
environment post mining, which is up to 23 years from now. The discussion therefore focusses on the
physical and other attributes that would be required to support the identified ancillary land use.
8.3 Final Land Use Statement
The final land use within the Project boundary will be generally consistent with the pre-mining land
use and biodiversity. In accordance with Condition B97 of SSD 7142, and as per the approved final
landform presented in the EIS, the final land uses will include:
ecological rehabilitation under a Stewardship Agreement (see Section 8.3.1);
native open woodland vegetation (see Section 8.3.2); and
agricultural pastureland.
United Wambo will implement an integrated approach to the future rehabilitation and management
of the land within the disturbance boundary to facilitate the establishment of native vegetation
communities for biodiversity conservation and agricultural land for ongoing production. The final land
use plan is presented in Section 10.
8.3.1 Ecological Rehabilitation
As part of the Biodiversity Offset Strategy, the ecological rehabilitation will comprise woodland
conforming to the Central Hunter Valley Eucalypt Forest and Woodland Critically Endangered
Ecological Community (CEEC) and other vegetation types as described in Table 8-2.
Table 8-2: Proposed Ecological Rehabilitation
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PCT / Species Area (ha) Credits
HU905 - Narrow-leaved Ironbark - Grey Box grassy woodland of the central 505.8 2,437
and upper Hunter (conforming to Central Hunter Valley Eucalypt Forest and
Woodland CEEC under the EPBC Act)
HU816 – Spotted Gum - Narrow-leaved Ironbark shrub - grass open forest 159.4 768
of the central and lower Hunter (conforming to Central Hunter Ironbark –
Spotted Gum – Grey Box Forest EEC under the BC Act)
HU905 - Narrow-leaved Ironbark - Grey Box grassy woodland of the central 212.8 1,025
and upper Hunter
Total 878.0 4,230
Condition B56 of SSD 7142 requires United Wambo to notify the Planning Secretary of the intent to
satisfy Stage 1 offset credits using Ecological Mine Rehabilitation and provide details of the particular
ecosystem credits proposed to be satisfied within 12 months of commencing Phase 1A. As such, the
PCT’s and areas of communities shown in Table 8-2 are indicative and may be modified within
12 months of commencing Phase 1A. Any changes will be provided in an updated RMP and in the
United Wambo Biodiversity Management Plan.
Plan 2 shows the conceptual location of the PCTs in the final landform. As per above, the PCTs and/or
areas may be updated following review of the Biodiversity Offset Strategy. The specific location of the
PCTs within the final landform may also be varied during the life of the Project as a result of changes
in timing of rehabilitation and performance of rehabilitation against the specific PCT criteria. Any
changes to the proposed location of the specific ecological rehabilitation PCTs will be provided in an
updated Plan 2 in future RMPs.
8.3.2 Native Open Woodland Vegetation
Condition B69 of SSD 7142 requires 1,300 hectares of Open Woodland Revegetation to be established
by United Wambo during the life of the operation. The areas of rehabilitation used to satisfy
Condition B69 cannot be the same as the areas proposed for Ecological Mine Rehabilitation described
in Section 8.3.1. As per the rehabilitation objectives in Condition B97 of SSD 7142 and Table 9-1, the
Open Woodland Revegetation is to be native woodland ecosystems characteristic of vegetation
communities found in the local area and must complement the areas proposed for Ecological Mine
Rehabilitation.
The Open Woodland Vegetation will target the same PCTs as the Ecological Mine Rehabilitation
described in Section 8.3.1 (currently HU905 and HU816).
8.4 Justification for the Proposed Final Land Use
As required by Condition B97 of SSD 7142, the final land use and rehabilitation objectives outlined in
Section 9 are generally consistent with the final landform proposed in the EIS and associated
documentation (Umwelt). The proposed final land use is outlined in Plan 2. The mine design and final
land use was justified as part of the overall EIS process.
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