Incorporating Climate Change in Mine Closure Planning Use Queensland, Australia as a case study to understand the mining industry view and procedures in water management

With the development of the mining industry globally, the number of mines approaching closure stage is increasing. Mine closure raises planning challenges regarding water management, including water quality, erosion and void water balances. Solutions to these challenges are influenced by assumptions regarding climate change, particularly changes in precipitation extremes at different time-scales and in air temperatures.

To understand how climate change will influence mine closure planning, it is important to review the potential post-closure impacts of climate change (including physical, and chemical and social impacts). Improved understanding of extreme rainfall and temperature impacts will provide insight into variability in risk levels across the mining industry and in comparison, to other industries facing comparable post-operational challenges; and inform about potential need for further national guidance.

The context for this project is the intersections between climate change (precipitation extremes and temperature), water management and mine closure planning. 

Biography

Research assistant - MISHC
Master of Integrated Water Management - UQ
Bachelor of Environmental Engineering

Supervisors

Professor Neil McIntyreDr Anthony Kung & Dr Eleonore Lebre