Rural Solutions SA can assist mine operators to meet their regulatory obligations, as well as conducting community consultation, environmental impact assessments, rehabilitation and monitoring.

With South Australia continuing to experience strong growth in mining and exploration activities some of the success stories were presented at the South Australian Resources and Energy Investment Conference held at the Hilton Hotel in Adelaide from April 30 to May 2, 2008.

Rural Solutions SA was present to hear the latest news and advertise its ability to provide environmental solutions to the mining industry.

Discussions have already begun with a number of companies seeking solutions to a range of mining environmental issues.

The growth in mining and exploration activities is due, in part, to high base metal prices, strong demand for minerals from countries including China, India and Vietnam, and also the State Government Plan for Accelerating Exploration (PACE) program. 

The PACE program is injecting $30.9 million over seven years to elevate mineral prospects to development project status. 

South Australia has gone from four active mines in 2001 to 10 active mines in 2008, and there are currently thirty mining operations in development around the state.

Caption
CEO of Australian Zircon Jim Wilton, middle, at the South Australian Resources and Energy Conference with Rural Solutions SA consultants Craig Liddicoat, left and Ben Baghurst. Rural Solutions SA’s Chris McDonough has been working with Australian Zircon to rehabilitate the mineral sand mine at Mindarie so that it returns to productive cropping land.

Rural Solutions SA is currently preparing a revegetation plan for a quarry near Sprinton, South Australia. 

Environmental Consultant with Rural Solutions SA Ben Baghurst said risks to revegetation such as erosion, rabbits, kangaroos, sheep, weeds and soil type are being identified and mitigation actions proposed. 

“The plan will provide a step-by-step guide to the progressive revegetation of the quarry with local indigenous plant species,” said Mr Baghurst.
 
“We have also recently developed a land management strategy for a large sand quarry at Kalbeeba.  The strategy considered land use, biodiversity conservation, revegetation, productivity and visual amenity. 

“The quality of the plan led to Rural Solutions SA being invited to project manage the implementation of the land management strategy.”

Restoring productivity has been the focus of work Rural Solutions SA is currently undertaking for a Zircon mining company in SA’s Mallee country. 

Carefully designed soil research is being conducted by Rural Solutions SA to restore the productivity of mined cropping land. 

These studies are providing insight into the relationship between clay composition and crop productivity, and increasing our understanding of the relationship between mineral sand mining and pastoral landscapes.

If requiring any further information contact Ben Baghurst on 8301 5717 or 0488 126 577.

For further information contact Ben Baghurst.