The tricky and expensive task of accessing knowledge on rehabilitating and preparing to close mining sites has been eased by a unique online resource developed by University of Queensland scientists and Central Queensland coal mine rehabilitation experts.
UQ Centre for Mined Land Rehabilitation former researcher Ms Corinne Unger said the MRC-wiki resource would allow experts to share their collective knowledge.
“The retirement or transfer of experienced rehabilitation and closure staff from a mining region creates a massive knowledge vacuum for the mining community,” Ms Unger said.
“MRC-wiki is a knowledge-sharing platform to capture and share experiences of people working on mine rehabilitation and closure in the coalfields of Central Queensland.
The project has involved a team with expertise in mine site rehabilitation, closure planning, information technology and social science, and was funded by the Australian Coal Association Research Program.
Central Queensland Mine Rehabilitation Group chairman Mr Stuart Ritchie said the group had been concerned about losing knowledge in such an important area.
“The wiki is open to the public and we encourage users to register and add content,” Mr Ritchie said.
“Ideally, it will become a leading go-to place for information now and into the future.”
The UQ Centre for Mined Land Rehabilitation is part of the Sustainable Minerals Institute (SMI).
Other researchers on the project included UQ Business School’s Dr Carol Bond, and SMI’s Associate Professor Thomas Baumgartl, Vanessa Glenn and Paul Sabourenkov.