Recent mine closures, especially across Northern Australia, have highlighted a skills gap in the current AHC qualifications for adequately training people to work effectively to rehabilitate closed mines. Generally, mining companies are required by legislation, regulation or operating/licensing agreements to rehabilitate the land they use after mine closure, ideally doing so progressively during the lifecycle of the mine site.

Large mining companies engage environmental and rehabilitation specialists and advisors, which may be supervised by university educated environmental engineers. However, the skills needed by field workers performing the rehabilitation tasks are best supported through the VET system, as they build on skills already contained within it. This includes dozer seeding, drainage work, dam cleaning, sediment fencing, and irrigation supply, as well as ongoing monitoring, remediation and reporting services that are necessary as part of state and federal regulations.

This project is an opportunity for determining best practices for current and future mine site rehabilitation in Australia in collaboration with multiple stakeholders.

The Australian Industry Skills Committee (AISC) approved this project, out of the Annual Update IRC Skills Forecast and Proposed Schedule of Work 2020.

Skills Impact and the Amenity Horticulture, Landscaping, Conservation and Land Management Industry Reference Committee (IRC) will oversee this project, consistent with the 2012 Standards for Training Package Development.

Download Project Proposal (see page 74)

Conserving and managing Australia’s many unique ecosystems requires specialist skill and knowledge. While these skills are generally applicable to a range of geographically diverse natural locations, additional expertise is required to rehabilitate land after it has been used for mining. With over 350 operating mines and mineral deposits across Australia, it is vital that the skills to restore mined land to a safe, stable environment are supported and accessible. Consultation with industry will take place throughout this project to define the hands-on skills required to carry out work for the reclamation of mined land in national skills standards.

There are many complexities to restoring mined lands that do not apply to other environments. Skills are needed to re-establish native ecosystems and groundwater systems. Specific skills and knowledge are required to work with topsoil that has been depleted of nutrients, to manage the presence blisy,rt/ >Forestry and Timber