At Ambre Energy, we take our environmental responsibilities very seriously. The long-term viability of our company and our projects will depend on the thoroughness with which we control the impacts of our projects and rehabilitate the areas that we have mined or otherwise affected.

The proposed project, ambreCTL, for example, is located in a closely settled, agricultural area. It includes some cropping capacity and has suffered a shortage of water for many years.

Ambre Energy will be expected to rehabilitate any mined areas to a state equal to or better than its pre-mined state and to minimise any impacts on local water sources.

Parallels can be drawn between ambreCTL and those that have been undertaken over many years in Australia’s Hunter Valley, which have the following features:

• co-existence of mining operations with large-scale farms, hobby farms, wine industry and tourism
• attractive agricultural landscapes
• some towns (e.g. Muswellbrook) have very large mining operations within 2km
• intense local scrutiny leading to ongoing improvements in environmental standards and reduced impacts
• long history of mining resulting in a valuable bank of experience and several innovative rehabilitation projects.

Although the extent of Hunter Valley mining is many times larger than that proposed at Felton, the environmental lessons learned will be of great benefit as Ambre Energy designs its project.

Australia has limited agricultural resources where both climate and soils are suitable for crop production. Ambre Energy is acutely aware of our social and environmental responsibility to avoid permanent alienation of cropping land. 

As a demonstration of this awareness, representatives from Ambre Energy have investigated the rehabilitation of prime farmland first-hand in the NSW Hunter Valley and in the US Midwest states of Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky.

In the 1970s, the US faced a similar conflict between agriculture and mining to that which Queensland is experiencing today. The debate exposed similar arguments, with those on the side of agriculture and environment doubting the mining industry’s claims that mined land could be successfully rehabilitated.

In February 2010, Ambre Energy sponsored a visit to Felton by US soil scientist and rehabilitation expert, Dr David Ralston. Dr Ralston is a foundation figure in this field. He is well respected for his contribution to the success of prime farmland rehabilitation in the US Midwest over the past 35 years.

Four articles have been developed for Ambre Energy to support our rehabilitation planning at the Felton site.

1. Prime farmland rehabilitation in Illinois and Indiana (PDF, 153 kB) - The introduction of national legislation, the Federal Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) in 1977, has seen a change in mining equipment and technology which is enabling crop lands to be fully restored following mining. Today the agricultural resource is preserved for future food production while the energy resource is harvested to meet current energy needs.
2. Developing the technology to rehabilitate cropland (PDF, 283 kB)  - As a result of SMCRA, the American mining industry has invested in learning how to mine its cropland soils and rehabilitate cropland soils. Successful outcomes have involved defining soil physical and chemical properties, selecting the best mining equipment and applying good agronomic management to bring soils into the full crop potential.
3. Soil characterization (PDF, 187 kB) - physical and chemical properties - For coal mining to be short-term land use, the agricultural resource must be accurately defined prior to mining, i.e. the physical and chemical properties of the soil must be thoroughly understood. This article proposes a number of tests for Felton soils to support a post-mining land use plan.
4. Post mining land management (PDF, 213 kB) - This article details how, with good conservation practices and agronomic management, mine soils can be brought back into crop production.

Dr Ralston’s research has also been provided to the Queensland Government to inform development of a strategic cropping land policy, which aims to protect and preserve ‘strategic’ agricultural cropping land resources.

Soil Tech, Inc. articles on rehabilitation 2010

Articles developed for Ambre Energy to support rehabilitation planning at the Felton site, covering:

• Prime farmland rehabilitation in Illinois and Indiana
• Developing the technology to rehabilitate cropland
• Soil characterization
• Post mining land management

Dr David Ralston, Soil Tech, Inc. articles 2010 (PDF, 618kB)

 

Strategic cropping land policy and discussion paper submission

Ambre Energy believes that mining and agricultural production are two pivotal Queensland industries which can co-exist in the longer term. This co-existence can be achieved through a policy framework that considers the important contribution made to both industries. Ambre Energy has produced a submission to the government’s discussion paper.

Strategic cropping land policy and discussion paper submission, and Soil Tech, Inc. articles on rehabilitation 2010 (PDF, 322kB)

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