Sustainable Minerals Institute

Dr Robynne Chrystal

Senior Research Fellow
CWiMI
+61 7 3346 4130
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Robynne Chrystal

Ecohydrology, mine environmental management, water resources management 

Robynne Chrystal has a PhD in engineering specialising in ecohydrology and focussed on understanding the biophysical functioning of the St Lucia estuarine-lake system in South Africa. This system forms part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a Ramsar site of importance, however it has undergone significant anthropogenic impacts due to floodplain alterations and management strategies.  A water and salt balance model was developed to investigate what-if scenarios in terms of past anthropogenic interventions and determine the occurrence and persistence of adverse conditions. Robynne collated enough data to perform ecological network analysis in order to estimate ecosystem indices that would help to understand how the ecosystem responds to different physico-chemical conditions and mouth state. 

Robynne has also been involved in research projects including coastal modelling, hydropower and algal biofuels. She enjoys working with specialists from other fields on multi-disciplinary projects and looking at ways to integrate knowledge to provide a more holistic understanding and solution to problems. 

Biography

Before joining The University of Queensland, Robynne held positions within industry and the research sector. Robynne started off her career in the research sector where she held a lecturing position in the Civil Engineering Department at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. During this time she was involved in research projects including ecohydrology and estuarine and coastal modelling. Robynne has spent the last 5 years in consulting, most recently with Hatch, where she worked as a water resources engineer on a variety of projects ranging from urban drainage to mine environmental and water management.   

Industry

During her time in industry, Robynne has worked on a wide array of projects including drainage design and assessments, mine environmental and water management, creek diversions, mine closure and rehabilitation, estuarine modelling, green urban development and water quality assessments. 

 

Publications

Book Chapter (1)
Journal Articles (4)
Department Technical Report (1)
Research Reports (7)

Book Chapter

Stretch, Derek D., Chrystal, Clinton P., Chrystal, Robynne A., Maine, Christopher M. and Pringle, Justin J. (2013). Estuary and lake hydrodynamics. Ecology and conservation of estuarine ecosystems: Lake St Lucia as a global model. (pp. 113-150) edited by Renzo Perissinotto, Derek D. Stretch and Ricky H. Taylor. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. doi: 10.1017/CBO9781139095723.009

Journal Articles

Chrystal, Robynne A. and Scharler, Ursula M. (2014). Network analysis indices reflect extreme hydrodynamic conditions in a shallow estuarine lake (Lake St Lucia), South Africa. Ecological Indicators, 38, 130-140. doi: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2013.10.025
Lawrie, Robynne A. and Stretch, Derek D. (2011). Occurrence and persistence of water level/salinity states and the ecological impacts for St Lucia estuarine lake, South Africa. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 95 (1), 67-76. doi: 10.1016/j.ecss.2011.08.007
Lawrie, Robynne A. and Stretch, Derek D. (2011). Anthropogenic impacts on the water and salt budgets of St Lucia estuarine lake in South Africa. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 93 (1), 58-67. doi: 10.1016/j.ecss.2011.04.005
Lawrie, Robynne A., Stretch, Derek D. and Perissinotto, Renzo (2010). The effects of wastewater discharges on the functioning of a small temporarily open/closed estuary. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 87 (2), 237-245. doi: 10.1016/j.ecss.2010.01.020

Department Technical Report

Côte, Claire Madeleine, Holloway, Edward, Dunlop, Jason and Chrystal, Robynne A. (2023). Leading practice approaches to select post-mining land uses for residual mine voids. Office of the Queensland Mine Rehabilitation Commissioner, Centre for Water in the Minerals Industry, Sustainable Minerals Institute.

Research Reports

Chrystal, Robynne and Serey, Peter (2023). Water Balance Modelling for Kenmare’s Moma Mineral Sands Project. Brisbane, Australia: The University of Queensland, Sustainable Minerals Institute.
Chrystal, Robynne, Bolz, Pascal, Edraki, Mansour and McIntyre, Neil (2023). CleanCo: Swanbank Power Station: Hydrological and water quality assessment. Brisbane, Australia: The University of Queensland, Sustainable Minerals Institute.
Chrystal, Robynne, McIntyre, Neil, Bolz, Pascal, Edraki, Mansour, Worden, Sandy, Holcombe, Sarah, Barnes, Rodger and Hernandez Santin, Lorna (2023). Design of Activities for the Investigation of Ngadju Salt Lake Systems. Brisbane, Australia: Sustainable Minerals Institute, The University of Queensland.
Côte, Claire Madeleine, Zavala Garcia, Consuelo, Chrystal, Robynne and Asmussen, Pascal (2022). Integration of biophysical aspects in mine closure planning. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: CRC TiME.
Chrystal, Robynne , Asmussen, Pascal and Côte, Claire (2022). Technical Guidelines: Erosion and Sediment Control in Mining . Brisbane, QLD Australia: The University of Queensland.
Chrystal, Robynne , Côte, Claire, Asmussen, Pascal and Shaygan, Mandana (2021). Erosion and sediment control framework for Queensland Mines. Brisbane, QLD Australia: Sustainable Minerals Institute, The University of Queensland.
Chrystal, Robynne , Cöte, Claire and Genova, Paulina (2021). Review of current water accounting at Kenmare’s Moma Titanium Minerals Mine: Pilivili Site. Brisbane, QLD Australia: The University of Queensland .