The Environment

Australia has a vast outback, supporting many diverse and fragile ecosystems. Australian mining sites are no exception. Care is taken on mining sites to minimise disturbance to the land, and the removal of trees is avoided wherever possible. Drilled holes and access tracks are covered over and re-vegetated promptly after mining is completed.

Miners are not the only people employed on mining sites in Australia. Teams of professionals including ecologists, botanists, and physicists, monitor the sites, and the surrounding areas and towns. Environmental staff are responsible for waste management, radiation safety, and environmental research and rehabilitation. All natural species that inhabit the environment are regularly monitored. Water and air samples are taken to monitor contaminants, and even miners are checked for trace amounts of radiation before they leave the site!

Mining company environmental scientists have added greatly to the store of information about native flora, fauna and ecosystems, in devising programs that minimise the impact the development of our resources has on the environment.

Greater technical detail can be found on this topic by searching through the listed briefing papers and education resources at www.uic.com.au.