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Mining Responsibly

There are teams of experts all over NSW restoring the land that is used productively for mining.

Including environmental scientists, water experts, farmers, engineers, drone pilots and more.

And it’s happening all the time.

We operate under strict environmental laws, including regulations on land rehabilitation. Before a mine starts operating, we make plans for how the land will be restored for the future.
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Like creating native bushland, renewable energy projects and productive farmland for cattle grazing.

In the Hunter Valley alone, 40 percent of the land used for mining is already under rehabilitation.

In NSW, we mine responsibly.

Werris Creek Mine Restoration

At Werris Creek mine near Tamworth, Whitehaven Coal is
establishing an open box gum woodland providing land for grazing, woodland vegetation and native habitats.

By using standing these special ‘stag’ trees, the rehabilitated land provides an instant habitat for local birds, bats and marsupials.

Coupled with native groundcover and planting native canopy
seedlings, this approach means the open box gum woodland is
constantly developing and progressing towards an established and mature ecosystem for the future.

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Sharing the land with farmers: Hannah’s story

Hannah grew up on a sheep and cattle farm in northern NSW and has always had a strong connection with the land.

After school, Hannah studied environmental science at university and she’s now putting that expertise to work in the NSW mining industry with Whitehaven Coal.

Hannah works at the company’s Narrabri underground mine as an environmental specialist, one of many professions focused on the land and the environment in our industry.

Like so many people in mining in NSW, Hannah is passionate about minimising the impacts of mining and the important work of restoring the land to productive farms and thriving bushland for native trees and wildlife.

From Mining land to grazing land

Hunter Valley Operations near Singleton is one of the largest and most productive mines in NSW.

It’s also home to around 2,000 head of cattle on around 6,000 hectares of the mine’s land that’s used for dairy, cattle grazing or pasture. The mine licenses its restored mining land to seven local farmers, including more than 860 hectares to Peter Nichols. That’s about 600 football stadiums.

Working together, they recently conducted a trial with the NSW Department of Agriculture, comparing cattle on rehabilitated mining land to neighbouring non - mined land.

The results were very good, with cattle on the land that had been mined and restored putting on more weight compared to the non - mined land.

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About Us

This website is developed and proudly shared by the NSW Minerals Council. We champion innovation and leading practice for a safer, smarter and more innovative mining sector in NSW. And as the peak industry body we promote the important role mining plays in society, the good things mining brings to NSW and the contribution of our members and mining families in communities across the state. Find out more at nswmining.com.au.