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BENGALLA MINE

MINE OPERATIONS PLAN

2015-2021- Amendment A

(SSD- 5170) - Modification 1

Application Date: January 2016

Bengalla Mine Mine Operations Plan 2015-2021 Amendment A

2015-2021MOP Amendment A - BengallaMine_Final.pdf of 138

Table of Contents Table of Contents ..................................................................................................................................... 3 List of Table .............................................................................................................................................. 5 List of Figures ........................................................................................................................................... 5 1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 6

1.1 History of Operations ............................................................................................................... 7 1.2 Consents, Authorisations and Licences ................................................................................. 10 1.3 Land Ownership and Land Use.............................................................................................. 13 1.4 Stakeholder Consultation ....................................................................................................... 15

1.4.1 Community Consultative Committee .................................................................................. 16 1.4.2 Statutory Authorities ........................................................................................................... 16 1.4.3 Aboriginal Groups............................................................................................................... 16 1.4.4 Stakeholder Expectations .................................................................................................. 16 1.4.5 Rehabilitation and Post-Mining Land use .......................................................................... 17

2 Proposed Mining Activities .............................................................................................................. 18 2.1 Project Description .......................................................................................................................... 18 2.2 Asset Register ................................................................................................................................. 19 2.3 Activities over the MOP Term ......................................................................................................... 21

2.3.1 Geology and Exploration .................................................................................................... 21 2.3.2 Construction ....................................................................................................................... 21 2.3.3 Mining Operations (including mining purposes) ................................................................. 22 2.3.4 Rock/Overburden Emplacement ........................................................................................ 25 2.3.5 Processing Residues and Tailings ..................................................................................... 26 2.3.6 Waste Management ........................................................................................................... 27 2.3.7 Decommissioning and Demolition Activities ...................................................................... 28 2.3.8 Progressive Rehabilitation and Completion ....................................................................... 28 2.3.9 Material Production Schedule During MOP Term .............................................................. 28

3 Environmental Issues Management ............................................................................................... 30 3.1 Environmental Risk Assessment............................................................................................ 30 3.2 Environmental Risk Management .......................................................................................... 33

3.2.1 Environmental Management Documents ........................................................................... 33 3.2.2 Specific Risks relating to Rehabilitation ............................................................................. 35

4 Post Mining Land Use ..................................................................................................................... 43 4.1 Regulatory Requirements ...................................................................................................... 43 4.2 Post Mining Land Use Goal ................................................................................................... 48 4.3 Rehabilitation Objectives ........................................................................................................ 49

5 Rehabilitation Planning ................................................................................................................... 50 5.1 Domain Selection ................................................................................................................... 50

5.1.1 Primary Domains ................................................................................................................ 51 5.1.2 Secondary Domains ........................................................................................................... 52

5.2 Domain Rehabilitation Objectives .......................................................................................... 53 5.3 Rehabilitation Phases ............................................................................................................ 55

5.3.1 Decommissioning ............................................................................................................... 55 5.3.2 Landform Establishment .................................................................................................... 55 5.3.3 Growth Media Development ............................................................................................... 56 5.3.4 Ecosystem and Land-use Establishment ........................................................................... 56 5.3.5 Ecosystem and Land-use Sustainability ............................................................................ 56 5.3.6 Relinquishment ................................................................................................................... 56 5.3.7 Rehabilitation Phases at the end of the MOP .................................................................... 57

6 Performance Indicators and Completion Criteria ............................................................................ 58 6.1 Completion Criteria ................................................................................................................ 58

7 Rehabilitation Implementation ........................................................................................................ 78 7.1 Status at MOP Commencement ............................................................................................ 78 7.2 Proposed Rehabilitation Activities during the MOP Term ...................................................... 79



7.2.1 Ground Disturbance ........................................................................................................... 79 7.2.2 Topsoil Management .......................................................................................................... 79 7.2.3 Landform Establishment .................................................................................................... 80 7.2.4 Growth Medium Development ............................................................................................ 80 7.2.5 Ecosystem Establishment .................................................................................................. 81 7.2.6 Rehabilitation Monitoring and Maintenance ....................................................................... 85 7.2.7 Disturbance and Rehabilitation Progression during the term of the MOP ......................... 86

7.3 Summary of Rehabilitation Areas during the MOP Term ....................................................... 87 7.4 Relinquishment phase achieved during MOP Period ............................................................ 91

8 Rehabilitation Monitoring and Research ......................................................................................... 92 8.1 Rehabilitation Monitoring ........................................................................................................ 92 8.2 Research and Rehabilitation Trials and Use of Analogue Sites ............................................ 93

8.2.1 Research – Biochar – Soil Carbon Project ........................................................................ 93 8.2.2 Analogue Sites ................................................................................................................... 94 8.2.3 Grazing Trials on Rehabilitated Lands ............................................................................... 94 8.2.4 Species Suitability Trials .................................................................................................... 95 8.2.5 Weed Control Trials on Rehabilitated Lands ..................................................................... 95

9 Intervention and Adaptive Management ......................................................................................... 96 9.1 Threats to Rehabilitation ........................................................................................................ 96 9.2 Trigger Action Response Plan ............................................................................................... 96

10 Reporting ...................................................................................................................................... 105 10.1 Reporting .............................................................................................................................. 105

11 Rehabilitation Maps ...................................................................................................................... 106 Plan 1A - Pre Mining Environment – Project Locality ....................................................................... 107 Plan 1B - Pre Mining Environment – Natural Environment .............................................................. 109 Plan 1C - Pre Mining Environment – Built Environment ................................................................... 111 Plan 2 - Mine Domains at Commencement of MOP ........................................................................ 113 Plan 3A - Mining and Rehabilitation – 2015 ..................................................................................... 115 Plan 3B - Mining and Rehabilitation – 2016 ..................................................................................... 117 Plan 3C - Mining and Rehabilitation – 2017 ..................................................................................... 119 Plan 3D - Mining and Rehabilitation – 2018 ..................................................................................... 121 Plan 3E - Mining and Rehabilitation – 2019 ..................................................................................... 123 Plan 3F - Mining and Rehabilitation – 2020 ..................................................................................... 125 Plan 3G - Mining and Rehabilitation – 2021 ..................................................................................... 127 Plan 4 - Final Rehabilitation and Post Mining Land use ................................................................... 129 Plan 5 - Rehabilitation and Post Mining Land use Cross Sections .................................................. 131

12 Review and Implementation of the MOP ...................................................................................... 133 12.1 Review of the MOP .............................................................................................................. 133 12.2 Implementation ..................................................................................................................... 133

13 References .................................................................................................................................... 135 14 Acronyms ...................................................................................................................................... 137 Appendix A – SSD-5170 Modification 1 ............................................................................................... 138



List of Table

Table 1: History of Approvals ............................................................................................................... 7 Table 2 Consents, Leases and Licences ........................................................................................... 11 Table 3 Project components ............................................................................................................... 18 Table 4 Major assets by domain ........................................................................................................ 19 Table 5: Material Production Schedule during the MOP Term ........................................................... 28 Table 6: Risk Likelihood Ratings ........................................................................................................ 30 Table 7: Maximum Reasonable Consequence Ratings ..................................................................... 30 Table 8: Risk matrix ............................................................................................................................ 31 Table 9: Risk Classifications............................................................................................................... 31 Table 10: Environmental Risk Assessment ........................................................................................ 32 Table 11: Environmental Management Documents ........................................................................... 34 Table 12: Regulatory Requirements ................................................................................................... 43 Table 13: Bengalla Primary and Secondary Domains ....................................................................... 50 Table 14: Rehabilitation Objectives .................................................................................................... 53 Table 15: Summary of rehabilitation phases proposed for completion at the end of the MOP .......... 57 Table 16: Decommissioning Phase .................................................................................................... 59 Table 17 Landform Establishment ...................................................................................................... 60 Table 18 Growing Media Development .............................................................................................. 63 Table 19: Ecosystem and Land Use Establishment ........................................................................... 65 Table 20: Ecosystem and Land-use Sustainability ............................................................................ 72 Table 21: Land Relinquishment .......................................................................................................... 77 Table 22: Rehabilitation Status of Bengalla defined Domains ........................................................... 78 Table 23 Modified Pasture Rehabilitation Species ............................................................................. 81 Table 24 Native Vegetation Rehabilitation Species 1 ........................................................................ 82 Table 25 Native Vegetation Rehabilitation Species 2 ........................................................................ 84 Table 26: Disturbance and Rehabilitation Progression during the term of the MOP ......................... 86 Table 27 Rehabilitation Data Table .................................................................................................... 88 Table 28 Analysis of Rehabilitation Threats ....................................................................................... 97 Table 29 Trigger Action Response Plan ............................................................................................. 99 Table 30: Responsibilities for implementation of the MOP .............................................................. 133

List of Figures

Figure 1: Land Ownership Plan (EIS 2013) .................................................................................... 14

Figure 2: Schematic of Bengalla’s Mining Sequence ..................................................................... 24



1 Introduction

Bengalla Mine (Bengalla) is located in the Upper Hunter Valley of New South Wales, approximately

130 kilometres north-west of Newcastle and four kilometres west of Muswellbrook. Bengalla is bound

by Wybong Road to the north, Overton Ridge to the east, the Muswellbrook-Ulan Rail Line and the

Hunter River Flood plain to the south and Roxburgh Road to the west.

Bengalla is managed by Coal & Allied, and the Bengalla Joint Venture (BJV) owns the exploration and

mining rights within the Bengalla Mining Leases. The current participants and their interests in the

BJV are as follows:

CNA Bengalla Investments Pty Limited 40 per cent;

Wesfarmers Bengalla Limited 40 per cent;

Taipower Bengalla Pty Limited 10 per cent; and

Mitsui Bengalla Investment Pty Limited 10 per cent.

In September 2013, the Continuation of Bengalla Mine Environmental Impact Statement (Bengalla

EIS) (Bengalla Mining Company, 2013), and Bengalla Response to Submissions (Bengalla RTS

2014) was prepared to support an Application for Development Consent to enable continued mining

operations at Bengalla. On 3 March 2015, the Secretary of the Department of Planning and

Environment (DP&E) granted SSD-5170 which permits, but not omitted to the following activities at

Bengalla:

Continuation of open cut mining towards the west at a rate of up to 15 Million tonnes per annum

run of mine coal until 2039;

Continued use of the existing dragline, truck fleet and excavator;

An out of pit Overburden Emplacement Area (OEA) to the west of Dry Creek which may be

utilised for excess spoil material until it is intercepted by mining;

Various upgrades, relocations or additional new infrastructure to support the Project;

Processing, handling and transportation of coal via the (upgraded) Coal Handling and

Preparation Plant (CHPP) and rail loop for export and domestic sale;

Continued rejects and tailings co-disposal in the Main OEA and temporary in pit reject

emplacement;

Relocation of a 6 km section of Bengalla Link Road at approximately Year 15 near the existing

mine access road to facilitate coal extraction;

The diversion of Dry Creek via dams and pipe work with a later permanent alignment of Dry

Creek through rehabilitation areas when emplacement areas are suitably advanced;

Relocation of water storage infrastructure as mining progresses through existing dams

(including the Staged Discharge Dam and raw water dam); and

A workforce of approximately 900 full time equivalent personnel (plus contractors) at peak

production.

In August 2015, development consent (SSD-5170) modification 1 was lodged with the DP&E, and

then approved on the 16th of December 2015, to seek modifications for the following:

Alterations to various water management infrastructure components including:

o Utilisation of the Satellite Pit as a temporary dirty water catchment dam;

o Relocation of the Staged Discharge Dam Hunter River Salinity Trading Scheme

staged discharge release point;



o Construction of clean water diversion levees in locations other than those already approved; and

o Revised locations for the proposed relocation of the Hunter River and Washery Dams.

Additional locations for the siting of the Explosives Storage Facility; and The placement of fill from the excavation of clean Water Dam 1 adjacent to it

This Mining Operations Plan (MOP) Amendment A, for a period of 7 years from the time of approval (indicatively from 1st January 2015 through to 31st December 2021), including modifications outlined above, has been prepared in accordance with ESG3 – Mining Operations Plan Guidelines.

An updated Rehabilitation Cost Estimate (RCE) has not been provided as part of the application for this MOP since there is no significant change to the calculation due to changes to SSD-5170 Modification 1. Activities in ML1711, MLA493 and ML494 have previously been included and individual RCE’s have been submitted as part of the additional sublease applications.

Where variations from this plan are required to comply with relevant environmental instruments then those variations will be implemented which may result in departures from this plan to enable compliance.

1.1 History of Operations

A brief history of development, mining and associated approvals for Bengalla is provided in Table 1.

Table 1: History of Approvals

Year Details

1995

Development Consent

Bengalla Mining Company (BMC) was granted DA 211/93 under the EP&A Act for the ‘Construction and operation of a surface coal mine, coal preparation plant, rail loop, loading facilities and associated facilities’ on 7 August 1995. The supporting document to the Development Consent is the Bengalla EIS.

1998

Original MOP

In July 1998 Bengalla submitted its first Mining Operations Plan (MOP). This MOP detailed the mining operations and rehabilitation to be undertaken by Bengalla through to December 2003. The plan was subsequently approved on 1 December 1998 (MOP 1998).

1999

MOP Amendment A

Further detail design work on the rehabilitation profile led to the submission of an amendment to the MOP (MOP 1998) in May 1999 seeking a minor modification to the final rehabilitation profile. The amendment was approved by DMR in July 1999 (MOP 1999).



Year Details

2001

MOP Amendment B

A second amendment was sought in June 2001 relating to a change in a haul road location requiring an increase in the disturbed area to the West. The amendment reduced both visual intrusion and noise impacts on local residents and neighbours as well as increasing the efficiency of and extending the life of the haul road. The DMR granted approval for this amendment in July 2001 (MOP 2001).

2003

MOP Amendment C

A third amendment was sought in April 2003 in relation to three changes to the mining operations. These changes were an increase of 90 metres to the West of the extraction limit, provision of a hardstand area and bring forward the closure of the centre ramp and Northern loop roads (MOP 2003). This amendment was approved in May 2003.

2004

MOP (2004-2006)

In December 2003 Bengalla submitted a new MOP to allow mining operations to continue until December 2006. THE DMR approved the plan in March 2004 (MOP 2004).

2006

Development Consent Modification 1

In March 2006 Bengalla lodged an application for a modification to the current development consent. The supporting document to DA 211/93 (M1) is the Bengalla SEE. Approval for Modification 1 was received on 9 November 2006 (DA 211/93 (M1)).

2006

MOP Amendment A

A MOP Amendment was sought to allow Bengalla to implement changes prior to the approval of the next MOP application following the granting of modification 1 of the development consent.

2006

MOP (2006-2012)

In September 2006 a new MOP was submitted to allow Bengalla to continue mining operations until 2012. This MOP was approved in December 2006.

2007

MOP amendment A

In March 2007 an amendment was sought for the relocation of the explosives compound to facilitate the progression of mining activities in the main pit in the westerly direction. This amendment was approved in June 2007 (MOP 2007).



Year Details

2007


In July 2007 a second modification to the development consent was sought to allow the

following modifications to Bengalla:

Wantana Extension:

Infrastructure Modifications:

In-pit Facilities

The supporting document to DA 211/93 (M2) is the Wantana Extension SEE. The above

modifications were approved on 6 December 2007 (DA 211/93 (M2)).

2008


In March 2008 Bengalla sought a third modification to its mining operations which proposed the following:

Construction of the Bengalla Link Road Stage 2 on an alternative alignment to that originally approved; and

Deferral of the relocation of the ROM Hopper and associated facilities from its existing location to a site adjacent to the CHPP.

The supporting document to DA 211/93 (M3) is the Bengalla EA 2008. DA 211/93 (M3) was approved on 22 July 2008.

2008

MOP Amendment B

In December 2008 a MOP amendment was submitted to allow for the changes to mining operations to reflect the Modification 3 approval. This MOP amendment was approved by DPI on 13 January 2009.

2010


In December 2010 a fourth modification (M4) was sought to facilitate the following changes to Bengalla mining operations in response to loss of overburden emplacement capacity:

Acceleration of mining operations within the Wantana Extension to align these with existing operations; and

Implementation of an overburden emplacement strategy at Bengalla to resolve the overburden emplacement capacity issues.

The supporting document to DA 211/93 (M4) is the Bengalla EA 2010. Modification DA 211/93 (M4) was approved on 7 October 2011 by DP&I.

2011

MOP Amendment C

In May 2011 Bengalla submitted an amendment to the existing MOP which included a modified MOP plan of the approved temporary out of pit emplacement area (as described in the Bengalla EA 2010). The amendment was approved on 6 May 2011.

2011

MOP Amendment D

In December 2011 Bengalla submitted an amendment to the 2008 MOP to allow mining operations to continue in line with the most recent modification approved (M4). The 2011 MOP amendment described mitigation measures for those impacts outlined in the Bengalla EA 2010 and included MOP plan changes. The 2011 MOP amendment was approved on 12 December 2011.



Year Details

2012

MOP (2013-2015)

On 8th November 2012 Bengalla submitted a new MOP (2013-2015) to continue mining

under the development consent due the expiry of the previous MOP. The MOP (2013-2015) was approved on the 11

th December 2012.

2014

MOP (2013-2015) Amendment A (2014)

On the 17th January 2014 Bengalla submitted Amendment A to the MOP (2013-2015) to

allow the step up off the remaining Edderton in the north to make the Wynn coal the basal seam. The MOP Amendment A was approved on the 11

th February 2014

2014


In June 2014 a fifth modification (M5) was sought to facilitate the required geotechnical investigations to complete the detailed design of future water management infrastructure. The modification is comprised of the following geotechnical activities;

Test pits at three proposed dam locations associated with the relocation of the BMC Discharge Dam, Hunter River Raw Water Dam and Washery Dam

Test pits and two boreholes at the site of the proposed Clean Water Diversion Dam; and

Test pits along the pipeline alignment from Clean Water Diversion Dam to the clean water discharge point adjacent to the relocated BMC Discharge Dam.

2014

MOP (2015-2017)

On the 31st December 2014 Bengalla submitted the MOP (2015-2017) that would

facilitate mining to the end of the current Mining Consent through to mine closure if the Bengalla Continuation of Mining Project application was not approved. This MOP was approved on the 17

th March 2015

2015

Bengalla Continuation of Mining Project (BCMP) Development Consent

On 3 March 2015, the Secretary of DP&E granted SSD-5170 for the BCMP as discussed in the Introduction

2015

MOP (2015-2021)

On the 22nd May 2015 Bengalla submitted MOP (2015 - 2021) to continue mining in accordance with new BCMP development consent SSD-5170. This was approved on the 3

rd July 2015.

2015

Development Consent (SSD-5170) – Modification 1

In August 2015, Bengalla submitted to the Secretary of DP&E granted SSD-5170 for the BCMP as discussed in the Introduction. This was granted approval on the 16

th December

2015.

2016

MOP (2015-2021) Amendment A – This Document

In January 2016 Bengalla submitted this MOP (2015 - 2021) Amendment A to continue mining in accordance with Modification 1 of SSD-5170.



1.2 Consents, Authorisations and Licences

The principal approval at Bengalla is Development Consent SSD-5170 under Division 4.1 of Part 4 of

the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act). SSD-5170 was granted in

accordance with section 89E of the EP&A Act.

Bengalla is a Level 1 Mine and operates under a number of different approvals including;

Development Consents and approvals issued by the Department of Planning and

Environment (DP& E) and Muswellbrook Shire Council (MSC);

EPBC Act approval, by the Commonwealth Department of the Environment

Mining tenements issued by the Department of Trade and Investment, Regional Infrastructure

and Services (DTIRIS);

Mining Operations Plans (MOP) approved by DTIRIS;

Environment Protection License (EPL) issued by the NSW Office of Environment and

Heritage (OEH);

Dangerous Goods Licenses issued by Workcover; and

Water Licenses issued by New South Wales Office of Water (NOW).

In addition to its Development Consent, Bengalla operates under a number of mining authorities and

various other licences and environmental mining related approvals as listed in Table 2.

Table 2 Consents, Leases and Licences

Approval Tenement / Licence

(Description) Authority Issue – Expiry Dates

Development Consent (as

modified) DA 211/93 DP&E

Issued: 07/08/1995

Expiry: 27/06/2017

Development Consent SSD-5170 DP&E Issued: 03/03/2015

Expiry: 28/02/2039

Development Consent SSD-5170

Modification 1 DP&E

Issued: 16/12/2015

Expiry: 28/02/2039

Development Consent –

Explosives Facility DA 273/2006 MSC 06/09/2006 – Perpetuity

Mining Lease ML1397 DRE 27/06/1996 – 27/06/2017








Assessment Lease AL13 DRE 20/12/2006 – 19/12/2011*

Exploration Licence A438 DRE 18/08/2009 – 07/05/2014*

Mining Lease Application MLA 493 DRE In process for ML

Mining Lease Application MLA 494 DRE In process for ML

Mining Lease ML1711 DRE

Issued: 29/09/2015

Expiry: 17/12/2031

*Part Transfer from ML1645

issued on 17/12/2010

Sub Lease ML1645 Sublease 1 DRE ML1645

17/12/2010 – 16/12/2031 :

Sub Lease ML1645 Sublease 2 DRE

Sub Lease ML1645 Sublease 3 DRE

Bengalla Mining Operations

Plan (MOP)

“MOP (2015-2021)”

MOP DRE

01/01/2015 – 31/12/2021

Submitted: May 2015

Approved: 3rd

July 2015

Bengalla Mining Operations

Plan (MOP)

“MOP (2015-2021)

Amendment A””

MOP DRE

This MOP – Pending

Approval

Submitted: January 2016

Environmental Protection

Licence (EPL) 6538 EPA Issued: 24/08/2015

Hunter River Water Access

Licence (1,449 units)

WAL001106

(previously

20SL060388)

NOW 01/08/2004 – 18/03/2018

Groundwater Extraction

Licence 20BL169798 NOW Expiry Date: 31/10/2015*

Hunter River Pump 20PE001354 NOW 01/05/1997 – Annual

Licence to Store Explosives 07-100151-001 WorkCover

NSW Expiry Date: 10/01/2018

Licence to Store XSTR100151 WorkCover

NSW Expiry Date: 10/01/2018





Radiation Management

Licence 5061036 EPA 08/08/15*

* Renewal pending/in progress

1.3 Land Ownership and Land Use

The Upper Hunter region has a long history of rural land use for a variety of agricultural and industrial

activities, predominantly grazing and coal mining. The land surrounding the project is largely

dominated by mine owned land for various current or proposed mining operations. All of the land

within the project boundary that is planned to be mined is owned by Bengalla Mining Company, with

the exception of two lots owned by Coal & Allied. Coal & Allied also owns a large area of land to the

north of Bengalla Mine associated with the Mount Pleasant Project. The land to the South of the

Hunter River is held by BHP Billiton for the Mt Arthur Coal Complex.

Figure 1 and PLAN1C illustrates the land ownership surrounding Bengalla as per SSD-5170

Modification 1 Appendix 4.



Figure 1: Land Ownership Plan



1.4 Stakeholder Consultation

Bengalla has conducted effective stakeholder engagement programs since its initial exploration

licence was granted in 1991. Bengalla aims to build enduring relationships with its neighbours and

communities of interest based on mutual respect, active partnership and long-term commitment.

There are a number of different groups which affect and are impacted by Bengalla’s operations in the

Muswellbrook area and these are identified and detailed in RTCA’s Community and Stakeholder

Engagement Tracking System (CSETS). Broadly, the main stakeholder groups relevant to this Plan

include:

Local stakeholders;

Employees;

Near neighbours;

Near neighbour communities (e.g. Aberdeen, Denman, Merriwa and Scone);

Community groups;

Local government (including Muswellbrook Shire Council; Upper Hunter Shire Council);

Local Aboriginal groups;

Educational institutions (primary & secondary schools and TAFE);

Local media;

Neighbouring mines (Anglo Coal’s Drayton and Dartbrook operations, BHP Billiton’s Mt Arthur

Coal, Muswellbrook Coal, Glencore Mangoola mine);

Broad community stakeholders;

State and federal government departments;

State and federal regulators;

Non-local Aboriginal groups; and

Parent companies of local mines.

Regional and broader community relations programmes such as the Coal & Allied Community

Development Fund, Aboriginal Development Fund, corporate donations and sponsorships and media

liaison are managed by Rio Tinto Coal Australia’s Media and Communications Department. as well as

the NSW Community Relations team. The role of the Communities function in NSW, and therefore

the underpinning vision for the Muswellbrook Community Multi-Year Plan is to create the enabling

environment for the business to enhance value now and in the future through access to land and a

social licence to operate.

Our approach to community relations is focused on building enduring relationships based on mutual

respect, active partnership and long term commitment. In practice, and for the NSW Communities

team, this means:

Having robust relationships with our communities of interest – this requires understanding the

issues and needs of different stakeholders as well as active engagement;

Effectively contributing to communities – this requires understanding the socio-economic

environment and the community’s vision for the future, and providing contributions that are

sustainable and build long term community capacity.

The Rio Tinto Communities Standard sets out a framework for implementing the communities policy.

This includes the Muswellbrook Communities Multi-Year Plan, which is reviewed regularly and

updated annually. The Muswellbrook community relations strategy is currently being implemented

across three key task areas of consultation and engagement, community development and

communication.



1.4.1 Community Consultative Committee

Bengalla has a Community Consultative Committee (CCC) that monitors compliance with conditions

of consent and provides a forum for important community discussion. Community representatives act

as the point of contact to provide feedback between the mines and the community. Community

representatives are asked to relay information from these meetings to their community and in turn,

through their representative, the community can raise issues they would like addressed. The CCC is

comprised of members from the community, with representatives from Bengalla, Muswellbrook Shire

Council, and local community groups.

Bengalla has also implemented a 24-hour environmental hotline for community issues relating to its

operations. Bengalla has informed community members that they may contact the site at any time to

lodge concerns or enquiries regarding its mining operations. A system has been established to ensure

an appropriate Bengalla representative responds to any complaint lodged.

1.4.2 Statutory Authorities

Bengalla has consulted with the NSW Trade & Investment and other authorities regarding the

preparation and content of the MOP and all amendments. Consultation with these authorities has

occurred during recent approval submissions and environmental assessments. Statutory authorities

also have the opportunity for ongoing involvement in Bengalla’s operations through their

representation on the CCC.

1.4.3 Aboriginal Groups

Coal & Allied works closely with local Aboriginal people through professional engagement and

consultation on cultural heritage management. Company employees also undergo training in

Aboriginal cultural awareness.

A series of stakeholder consultation meetings and working group meetings have been conducted

between Coal & Allied and representatives of the local Aboriginal community regarding the

establishment of the Coal & Allied Aboriginal Development Fund (C&AADF). The C&AADF has been

formed by Coal & Allied and representatives from the local Aboriginal community to provide funding

for activities and projects that will benefit the Upper Hunter Aboriginal people. The C&AADF aims to

develop long term positive relationships between Coal & Allied and the Upper Hunter Aboriginal

community and to build the Aboriginal community into the future.

1.4.4 Stakeholder Expectations

Historically, management of issues identified by stakeholders in relation to Post Mining Land Use and

Final Landform have been addressed through the development consent process with modification to

the current consent, and recently through the BCMP development consent process. The MOP is then

created to reflect any changes that are required by this process. Examples that show how this

process works can be seen in the changing post mining land use of the eastern face of the dump to



align with Muswellbrook Council expectations to increase the density of trees in this area. Future

changes will be the potential for relief on top of the existing dump to create a more natural landform.

Understanding and managing the expectations of our key stakeholder groups will continue to be an

important issue in the Muswellbrook community. Bengalla will continue to engage and involve

stakeholders to ensure an understanding of key expectations and concerns. This will be key where

expectations of stakeholder groups differ, or where community expectations do not align with

requirements/conditions of operation.

1.4.5 Rehabilitation and Post-Mining Land use

Provisions for the rehabilitation of mined areas are attached to Mining Leases in accordance with the

Mining Act 1992 as administered by NSW Trade & Investment, Diversion of Resource & Energy

(DRE). A general requirement of the DP&E is that after rehabilitation, land should have the same

land use capability as before mining. Rehabilitation plans and reports are prepared to satisfy the

requirements of both Government Agencies and other relevant stakeholders. All rehabilitation will be

undertaken in consultation with the DRE and other relevant agencies.

Security deposits usually in the form of a bank guarantee are lodged with the DRE to ensure that

rehabilitation is undertaken. These deposits are progressively reviewed as areas are rehabilitated.

Objectives for Rehabilitation are integrated into early mine planning to ensure compatibility with site

constraints, mining operations, conservation objectives, community expectations, pre-mining land

use, final land use, drainage, stability, soils, erosion control and visual compatibility.

Rehabilitation designs for the final landform at Bengalla have been designed to follow the principles and strategies outlined in the DP&E Synoptic Plan: Integrated Landscapes for Coal Mine Rehabilitation in the Hunter Valley of New South Wales and requirements outlined in SSD-5170 Modification 1.



2 Proposed Mining Activities

2.1 Project Description

Operations at Bengalla are conducted in accordance with SSD-5170 Modification 1 and its supporting

documents: the Bengalla EIS BCMP (2013), the Bengalla RTS (2014), the Bengalla Statement of

Environmental Effects (SoEE) (2015), and the Bengalla RTS (2015). Bengalla is an open-cut strip

mining operation where mining generally advances to the west based on dragline strips approximately

60m in width. The advancing highwall angle is currently mined over 3-5 strips which allows the

prestrip fleet to mine ahead for both mine development and to prepare the next strip for the Dragline.

The table below summarises the key Project components as per section 4 of the Bengalla EIS (2013).

Table 3 Project components

Component Project

Life of Mine February 2039.

Deposit 316 Mt ROM coal within the mining areas

Mining Method Open Cut - Dragline, truck and excavator (machinery will be progressively

upgraded)

Production Up to 15Mtpa ROM coal

Operational

Hours

Mining operations and coal processing 24 hours per day, seven days per

week

Workforce

Currently ~400 full time personnel, up to 315 additional contractors

required during the construction periods and up to 900 full time equivalent

personnel (plus contractors) at maximum production.

Blasting

Maximum of 4 blast events per day and 12 blast events per week

averaged over a calendar year, between 7:00 am and 5:00 pm Monday to

Saturday.

Coal Transport All product coal is transported by rail (no road transport), up to 16 laden

train movements per day

Coal

Processing

CHPP including facilities to wash or bypass coal, 2600tph throughput of

ROM Hopper and CHPP, stockpile capacity of 1,215,000t, train load out

capacity of 5,000tph, rejects are loaded into trucks and co-disposed in the

OEA.

Infrastructure See Table 4 Major assets by domain



2.2 Asset Register Table 3 below details the primary domains and rehabilitation within the MOP area, their size at the end of the MOP (PLAN3G) and the major assets contained within.

Table 4 Major assets by domain

Domain Size

(ha) Major Assets Comments

DOMAIN 1

Infrastructure 163

Including but not limited to:

Coal Handling Preparation Plant

(CHPP) and associated

infrastructure; rail loop and train load

out facility, conveyors, stacker and

reclaimer system, transfer stations

and gantries, stockpile areas, ROM

hopper and surge bins, thickener,

reject bin, sewage plant

Maintenance infrastructure including;

maintenance workshop, wash bays,

chemical storage, electrical

infrastructure, radio tower, fuel and

lubricant facility

Fixed and temporary inpit

infrastructure including; crib and park

up amenities, fuel farm, explosives

storage, bioremediation farm, hot tyre

park up, dragline substations,

laydown areas and maintenance

pads/hardstands, roads network

Administration buildings, bathhouses,

electrical infrastructure, access roads

and parking facilities, core shed,

helipad and ancillary infrastructure.

Assets within the Infrastructure

Domain support the mining

process for the production of

saleable coal

Decommissioning includes

disconnection of services, the

removal of assets from the

domain for relocation offsite, and

remediation of the domain as per

the rehabilitation tables.

DOMAIN 3

Water

Management

71

Mine water dams and clean water

dams, discharge dam (SDD) and

point, hunter river intake, CW1 Dry

Creek clean water diversion dam and

associated infrastructure, pumps and

pipelines.

Assets within the Water

Management Domain are used to

manage both clean and mine

water around site.

Water management infrastructure

not to be utilised in the post

mining land use will be

decommissioned and removed

from site.



Domain Size

(ha) Major Assets Comments

DOMAIN 4

Overburden

Emplacement

225

Temporary infrastructure from

Domain 1 can be located on OEA’s

including but not limited to: hot tyre

park up, bioremediation farm, crib

rooms, maintenance pads

Assets within the Overburden

Domain support the mining

process and allow the phases of

rehabilitation to begin.

Decommissioning includes

removal of infrastructure and

plant from the area.

DOMAIN 5

Topsoil

Stockpiles

68 Topsoil Used in Rehabilitation works to

create secondary Domains

DOMAIN 6

Active Void 185

Mining equipment including but not

limited to Dragline, Excavators,

Loader, Dozers, Drills, Haul Trucks,

auxiliary equipment, Lighting Sets,

Pumps and Pipes.

Assets within the mining void are

used in the process of mining to

produce ROM coal.

Decommissioning includes the

removal of all plant from the

domain for relocation offsite.

DOMAIN 10

Temporary

Stabilisation

95 None

Temporary stabilisation will

typically not contain any assets

as the area is disused and

awaiting rehabilitation.

DOMAIN D -

Pasture 159

Rehabilitated Land – Grazing

Infrastructure

DOMAIN E -

Woodland 166

Rehabilitated Land – Woodland,

Native ecosystem

DOAMIN I –

Final Void 0 N/A Not Started

DOMAIN K –

Class III

Pasture

5.7 Rehabilitated Land – Grazing

Infrastructure

DOMAIN L –

Dry Creek

Restoration

0 N/A Not Started

DOMAIN M –

Tree

Restoration

0 N/A Not Started



2.3 Activities over the MOP Term Plans 3A – 3G show the annual sequence mining and rehabilitation over this MOP term. They can be referred to in conjunction with the text below that describe the mining related activities.

2.3.1 Geology and Exploration

The approved mining area contains a multi-seam coal deposit consisting of eight economically viable

open-cut mineable coal seams. Bengalla currently extracts coal from the Warkworth seam to the

Wynn seam (previously to the Edderton) which form part of the Wittingham Coal Measures (see

PLAN 5). Bengalla is situated on the western limb of the Muswellbrook Anticline with the coal seams

generally dipping to the west at approximately 5 degrees. The average strip ratio at Bengalla is

approximately 3.5 bank cubic metres (bcm) of overburden to each ROM tonne (t) of coal recovered.

Faulting and igneous intrusion are not significant influences on Bengalla’s mine design, although they

do have a localised impact on scheduling, wall stability, groundwater and coal quality. Most faulting is

high angle normal faults trending in a Westerly to North-westerly direction.

Initial exploration programmes over the mining tenements were planned with borehole spacing at

approximately 600m. These boreholes include a mixture of open and cored holes and provide a broad

understanding of the lithology and quality in future areas. As mining progresses, the pre-production

drilling targets the area ahead of the mine (approximately two years out from disturbance) ideally with

core (diamond) holes completed at 300m spacing and chip (open) holes at 100m spacing’s.

Additional drilling also occurs to target anomalies uncovered by mining, structure such as faults, or

geotechnical information for the safe management of mine design. The geology is logged in each

borehole and geophysical properties are also obtained for correcting depth and thickness of the

lithology’s. All collars are surveyed and coal is sampled from the core holes to provide detailed quality

information. This provides a level of confidence in the definition and delineation of the available

resource, used for detailed modelling for structure and quality.

Pre-production drilling outlined above is undertaken regularly at Bengalla across the mining

tenements, and will continue to do so over the MOP period. Each year annual reports on coal

exploration are completed and submitted to the NSW Department of Primary Industries / Minerals,

separately for the Bengalla Group (ML1397,ML1450, ML1469 and ML1597), AL13 and Authorisation

438, and any other titles approved over the MOP term. Each report includes exploration activities and

associated expenditure undertaken within the previous 12 month reporting period and proposed

exploration activities and expenditures for the following 12 month reporting period (details for each

reportable area can be found in the “Annual Report on Coal Exploration”, Bengalla Mining Company).

2.3.2 Construction

Construction activities as described in EIS BCMP (2013), the Bengalla RTS (2014), the Bengalla

SoEE (2015), and the Bengalla RTS (2015) over the MOP term includes but not limited to a

combination of; relocation of existing inpit infrastructure generally ahead of mining, Dry Creek

diversion works prior to mining through dry creek, and expansion work required to maintain and

increase consented production levels.

Relocation of inpit infrastructure will continue as required to facilitate the mining process within

approved areas. PLANS 3A to 3G show probable approximate locations and disturbance areas for

inpit infrastructure as the mine advances. This includes but is not limited to:



Inpit maintenance hardstands;

Inpit Crib amenities and park up facilities;

Inpit Fuel Farm;

Water management facilities including water diversions, pipes and pumps, drainage

structures and dams;

Bioremediation Farm

Power line relocation/installation/decommissioning

North and South Dragline substations

Hot tyre park ups

Haul and access roads

Explosive Storage Facilities

The current Staged Discharge Dam, Washery Dam and Hunter river intake dam are currently planned

to be relocated in 2017-2018, depending on mine progression. These existing facilities will still be

utilised as long as mining allows.

The construction of a levee in the south western corner of the mine in early 2015 will allow mining to

progress to the proposed extraction limit and prevent water from potentially entering the mine areas

via dry creek in a 1 in 100 year flood event.

The approved WOEA Dump will be utilised as needed for dump capacity, with flat areas being utilised

for inpit infrastructure as mining progresses.

Dry Creek Infrastructure works include the construction of CW1, a clean water dam positioned north

of Wybong road and associated infrastructure, as outlined in the supporting documentation listed in

Section 2.1.

Construction activities for expansion include but not limited to:

Additional HME (excavators, trucks and ancillary equipment)

Additional administration buildings and parking facilities

Upgrades to maintenance facilities and workshop

Upgrades to and additional CHPP infrastructure (ROM hopper, surge capacity, stockpile

areas, processing modules, processing rates, stacking and reclaiming systems, reject

systems, train load out facilities)

Demolition activities are described in section 2.3.7

2.3.3 Mining Operations (including mining purposes)

2.3.3.1 Mine Design

The design of Bengalla mine operations is influenced by many physical, geological, economic,

environmental and legislative factors and is aimed to maximise resource recovery. Delineating the

mining reserves has been established based upon the limiting constraints defined by the lowest seam

to be mined and the area extent of open cut mining.

The economic limit determined in the Initial Feasibility Study (1993), based on data provided in the

original DMR tender papers was the base of the Edderton seam, although the final section of this

seam was stepped up from in early 2014 due to economic factors, with the previous sections being

stepped up from in the south due to managing geotechnical and safety issues.



The limit of oxidation (lox) line for the Edderton seam defined the eastern limit of the mine. This

maximised the extraction of shallow Edderton coal and allowed full advantage to be taken of shielding

provided by Overton Ridge. The western limit of mining is defined by the current 21-year approved

mine plan area as indicated in the EIS, although mineable reserves exist out past the western

boundary of ML1397, which is included in the Submitted BCMP application. The northern boundary

of the lease area runs along Wybong road and adjoins Coal & Allied’s Mount Pleasant Project.

Access to barrier pillar coal in the Wybong road corridor is not provided for in the Bengalla

Development Consent. All seams mined at Bengalla continue northwards into Mount Pleasant.

In the initial mining strips, the southern limit was defined by seam subcrop. As mining progresses

westward, the strips lengthen to the south and the constraint ultimately becomes the alluvial river flats

since it is necessary to allow sufficient room for placement and rehabilitation of spoil without placing

spoil on the alluvial flats. As a result of these limitations, the southern limit of mining trends to the

southwest. Currently the limit of coal extraction is the north side of the 150m barrier zone to the

Hunter River alluvium where the Wantana pit exists.

The strip length is currently up to 3km including the Wantana pit and runs in a north-south direction

which is parallel to the sub crop and perpendicular to the dip. The seam dip has provided an

acceptable slope for lower seams and relatively level floors for each strip in the north-south direction.

The cross slope on the floor from east to west ensures the spoils are kept free draining and assists in

the management of pit water.

The mine is designed as a dragline strip mine with prestrip undertaken by excavator and truck fleets.

The nominal strip width is 60m to optimise the dragline operation and provide sufficient width for coal

recovery operations. The dragline has an operating radius of 105m and a nominal digging depth of 55

m and a dumping height of 55 m.

The design criteria used for pit generation are assessed geotechnically and consist of a combination of different drill and blast treatments, wall heights and bench widths to allow the safe extraction of coal at the given production rate..

2.3.3.2 Mine Equipment

Bengalla’s mobile equipment fleet currently incorporates modern technology and includes a dragline,

loading units including excavators and loaders, a fleet of trucks, and other ancillary equipment

including bulldozers, water carts, graders, drills, fuel/lube trucks, pumps, lighting plants, loaders, and

various light vehicles and service vehicles.

Bengalla owned mining equipment has been modified to meet stringent noise requirements to ensure

Bengalla continues to meet consented noise limits criteria at private residences. To minimize noise

generation, the fitting and maintenance of specially designed noise attenuation equipment has

ensured quieter operating equipment, most notably the P&H model 9020 dragline and haul truck fleet.

2.3.3.3 Mining Sequence

The mining sequence for the prestrip fleet at Bengalla begins with topsoil removal and stockpiling,

then continues into the cyclic process of drill and blasting of the overburden/interburden, moving the

overburden/interburden with loading units and trucks to the overburden emplacement areas (OEA) to

uncover the coal seam. The coal is then mined with loading units and trucks to be transported to the

ROM Hopper to be processed. This process is repeated until the lower dragline horizon is reached



where a similar process is followed with the main difference of the dragline moving the majority of the

interburden from highwall to lowwall instead of loading unit and trucks.

As each strip is completed, the void created from the mining process is backfilled with the interburden

from advancing strips. Once the OEA has reached the final landform height, reshaping is completed

and topsoil is then removed from existing stockpiles or directly from the advancing prestrip and used

on the shaped landform to start the rehabilitation process.

Figure 2: Schematic of Bengalla’s Mining Sequence

Over the MOP term mining is currently planned to take place in Strips 24 to 43 generally using the

sequence outlined above. Mining occurs over several strips at any one time to allow the pre strip to

prepare the next dragline strip as well as maintain coal flow.

2.3.3.4 Land Preparation

Land preparation for mining at Bengalla consists of both vegetation and topsoil removal for later use

on post mining landform rehabilitation. Trees are stockpiled and used for native fauna habitats while

topsoil is recovered and either used directly on re-shaped final landform or stockpiled for later

rehabilitation.

Areas to be prepared for mining are first identified in the mining plan and are then marked with survey

pegs by the mine surveyor. A Ground Disturbance Permit (GDP) is completed and an inspection of

the site is conducted which identifies vegetation to be removed and where topsoil need to be

recovered and relocated. Vegetation and topsoil clearing ahead of mining areas is kept to a minimum

and is generally restricted to two strips width ahead of the active mining area. Mining strips are

nominally 60 m wide, but can vary from 55 m to 100 m in width. This allows for infrastructure

development ahead of mining such as haul roads, power lines and water management structures.

2.3.3.5 Topsoil Stripping

Topsoil stripping is undertaken by loader and truck, after windrowing by bulldozer inside the surveyed

area to ensure all suitable and available topsoil is removed for rehabilitation purposes. The depth of

topsoil is stripped until clay or secondary horizons are observed by the operator. Whenever practical

and to prevent dust generation, the topsoil is moistened but not saturated. Topsoil stripping is not



undertaken when wind speeds are above 5.6 m/s or when there is the potential for windblown topsoil

to dissipate across private residential areas.

Where possible, topsoil is stripped and immediately moved to reshaped landform areas for spreading.

In the event that reshaped areas are not immediately available, topsoil is stockpiled within designated

and surveyed areas such as on the unshaped areas of the overburden emplacement on the 270RL

level and the 240RL south level or in areas ahead of mining. Where possible topsoil stockpiling

alongside areas waiting to be reshaped ensures that the topsoil can be readily pushed without the

need for rehandling.

2.3.3.6 Topsoil Stockpiles

Topsoil stockpiling will continue to be necessary at Bengalla to ensure adequate topsoil for

rehabilitation, and the success of the post mining land use. Bengalla aims to keep topsoil stockpiling

to a minimum through rehabilitation of available final shaped landform as it becomes available.

Where topsoil stockpiles are required, the following will be adopted;

Located away from trafficable or mine areas, trees or watercourses and placed on areas on flat

topography or along the contour to prevent erosion,

Topsoil stockpiles and volumes will be identified and monitored for weed control

Where possible, stockpiles will be limited to a maximum height of 3.0 metres

Stockpiles will be designed to maximise surface exposure to the atmosphere, and

Any topsoil stockpiled for greater than three months is revegetated using a preferred crop cover

seed mix.

2.3.3.7 Dehabilitation

There is expected to be only small amounts of dehabilitation that may occur as a result of

progressive rehabilitation integration, apart from a section on the northern dump face above the

existing temporary stabilisation to allow the updated landform to be established.

2.3.4 Rock/Overburden Emplacement

Mineral waste from mining overburden and interburden is hauled by truck, or placed directly by the

dragline, into the Overburden Emplacement Areas (OEA) east of the active pit, into the void that has

been created from mining. Previously the Southern Overburden Emplacement Area (SOEA) which

was approved in October 2011 and commenced dumping in early 2012 was a separate dump but has

now merged into the main OEA.

As each dragline strip finishes, the trucks begin to dump up to 20m behind the spoil peaks the

dragline has completed and begin as soon as possible to develop the 7m lifts that allow for reject

emplacement within the truck dump section of the OEA. Each 7m lift allows for 1-2m of reject and 5-

6m of overburden for encapsulation, where rejects will either be dumped prior to, or dumped during

encapsulation. The dragline as it starts the new strip will begin to fill the void from last strip just

completed.



Bengalla does not have tailings storage facilities so reject material generated from the processing

phase is conveyed to the 400t capacity reject bin, where haul trucks are loaded for co-disposal with

overburden in the existing OEA. Reject material is either placed directly within cells developed in the

existing OEA or is temporarily stored in pit during periods when the OEA cannot be accessed such as

during adverse weather conditions. This material is then rehandled to final emplacement within the

existing OEA.

The potential acid rock drainage (ARD) material associated with the Archerfield sandstone mined

during the Wynn interburden, is mostly mined by the dragline, and placed on the western side of the

dragline spoil piles and is subsequently covered with neutralising overburden from the final pass of

the dragline operation as well as material hauled into position by the truck fleet. The portion of ARD

material mined by excavator and truck is dumped as low in the dump as possible below the final

surface.

The placement of reject, carbonaceous and acid rock drainage material is planned at least 5m below

the final landform in order to minimise the possibility of spontaneous combustion associated with any

carbonaceous material in the rejects. Reject material at Bengalla is typically benign. As the OEA is

filled to final design it is progressively shaped and rehabilitated.

Over the MOP term the main OEA will continue to be filled up with particular focus on the southern

edge that completes the Wantana Pit Backfill. This will ensure the rehabilitation of the south eastern

faces is consistent with SSD-5170 and the Bengalla EIS 2013 and RTS 2014. This will further assist

in improving noise and visual impacts on the township of Muswellbrook and the Muswellbrook

Racecourse.

There are currently 2 Western Overburden Emplacement Area’s (WOEA) that are approved to be

constructed pending mine planning requirements. The first was described in the EA (2010) and is on

the eastern side of Dry Creek with a maximum capacity of 6.6Mlcm’s. The second is described in the

Bengalla EIS 2013 and is on the western side of Dry Creek and has a capacity of 15Mlcm’s. This

overburden emplacement capacity is to assist in alleviating the dump capacity shortage previously

identified, although material is planned to be minimised where possible to avoid rehandle.

Due to overburden emplacement capacity issues currently experienced, Bengalla will continue to

utilise the northern face until 2016. Then post 2016 Bengalla will begin the process of rehabilitating

the northern face to the final landform as capacity in the dumps allows Bengalla to do so.

Modification 1 to SSD-5170 describes the final placement of fill from the excavation of Clean Water 1

Dam adjacent to it, rather than it being hauled across Wybong road and placed in the existing OEA.

This dump will be shaped and temporarily rehabilitated upon completion of the CW1 Dam

construction, remaining in place for the life of the CW1, until it is required to fill in the dam after

decommissioning.

2.3.5 Processing Residues and Tailings

Coal is transported via haul trucks from the mine to the ROM hopper which has an approved capacity

of 2600tph (tonnes per hour). The first stage of coal processing involves crushing ROM coal to less

than 250mm in size. The crushed coal is then transported along a conveyor to a secondary crushing

station where it is reduced to less than 50mm. After crushing, coal can be bypassed to product, direct

fed into the coal handling and preparation plant (CHPP) or transported and stockpiled on the raw coal

stockpile via conveyors.



Bengalla’s CHPP currently has three coal stockpiles in the handling and preparation process. The

Raw coal stockpile has a capacity of up to approximately 200,000t and the two product stockpiles

hold a combined volume of up to 500,000t. Current approvals is for 1,215,000t stockpile capacity.

The CHPP is a two stage plant that can change from single stage to two stage washing when

required and has an approved capacity of 2,600tph. A combination of dense medium cyclones (DMC)

and single stage spirals are utilised to process coal. After processing, the product coal is centrifuged

for the purpose of moisture reduction and then stacked onto one of the two product coal stockpiles.

Product coal is reclaimed from the product stockpiles and transported to the train load out facility

(TLO) which is a fully automated system that currently averages approximately 3,500tph into trains

(with an approved capacity of 5,000tph).

Since Bengalla does not have a tailings dam, the fine reject material is thickened and dewatered on

belt press filters, and then combined with other coarse reject streams generated from the processing

and conveyed to a rejects bin, where haul trucks are loaded and taken to the existing OEA for co-

disposal with overburden.

2.3.6 Waste Management

2.3.6.1 Non-Mineral Waste Management

Bengalla produces non-mineral waste such as scrap steel, oil and general waste as a result of its

activities. Non-mineral waste that cannot be recycled and is considered non-hazardous is disposed of

at appropriate landfill facilities, using licensed contractors. Hazardous non-mineral waste that cannot

be re-used or recycled is collected and sent off site for treatment and specialised disposal by licensed

contractors. The offsite treatment and disposal facilities used are audited to ensure that the wastes

are appropriately disposed.

Bengalla operates a comprehensive non mineral waste management system that consolidates waste

management into a single contract. This includes the day-to-day management of all major regulated,

industrial and putrescible waste streams and recycling generated by the operation. A large focus of

the waste management programme is placed upon correct handling, storage, segregation, recycling

and reuse of materials.

To achieve this and improve upon waste recycling performance, employees are provided with regular

training and awareness courses on different aspects of waste management, as well as feedback on

Bengalla’s performance in these areas.

2.3.6.2 Sewage Waste

Bengalla has its own sewage treatment plant where sewage is passed through a series of aeration

dams into a settling dam to allow settlement of solids. The liquid is then ponded with sufficient

residence time to allow further settlement and aeration before being reused on site in the mine’s water

management system.



2.3.7 Decommissioning and Demolition Activities

Most demolition activities will be associated with the relocation of inpit infrastructure. Demolition and

deconstruction activities associated with rehabilitation to achieve post mining land use will be minimal

as all of the planned Rehabilitation for this MOP term will be from the OEA.

2.3.8 Progressive Rehabilitation and Completion

The ability to rehabilitate is primarily controlled by areas released through the progression of the

OEA’s that are filled to final surface as a result of the mining sequence. Once this is done

rehabilitation phases can commence. Bengalla generally aims to rehabilitate OEA’s as soon as

practically possible to assist in minimising environmental impact. This is discussed further in sections

5, 6, 7, 8 and 9.

The rehabilitation focus over the MOP term will be mainly to establish woodland domains in 2015 and

2016, and then pasture domains for the remaining years. The south eastern faces of the OEA will be

primarily where the rehabilitation will take place with the northern face being rehabilitated towards the

end of the MOP Term once dump capacity issues are resolved.

All of the existing and proposed rehabilitation has been assumed to remain in Phase 4 – Ecosystem

and land use establishment since the completion criteria and domains have been updated to align

with the new development consent SSD-5170. Once monitoring and revegetation has aligned with

the new domains, the completion criteria will be assessed it is aimed to begin to progress some

sections of the rehabilitated land into Phase 5 - Ecosystem and land use sustainability.

2.3.9 Material Production Schedule During MOP Term

The proposed material production schedules for Bengalla for the period covered by this MOP are

shown below in Table 5

These production figures have been extracted from the Bengalla 2015 Annual Operating Plan (AOP),

and may increase or decrease depending on the approved mine plan and sequence at the time.

Table 5: Material Production Schedule during the MOP Term

Material Production Schedule during the MOP Term

Material Unit Year 1 (2015)

Year 2 (2016)

Year 3 (2017)

Year 4 (2018)

Year 5 (2019)

Year 6 (2020)

Year 7 (2021)

Stripped topsoil Mm3 171,000 107,000 153,000 150,000 140,000 120,000 130,000

Rock/Overburden (Prime) Mm3 39.03 43.52 42.63 41.20 45.49 46.00 47.00

Ore (ROM Coal) Mt 9.61 10.71 10.72 10.75 10.78 10.70 10.70

Reject Material Mt 2.41 2.56 2.57 2.49 2.54 2.50 2.50



Product Coal Mt 7.81 8.78 8.78 8.87 8.87 8.75 8.75



3 Environmental Issues Management

3.1 Environmental Risk Assessment

The key risks associated with the proposed mining activities at Bengalla during the term of this MOP

have been assessed using the likelihood ratings, maximum reasonable consequence ratings, risk

matrix and classifications (Rio Tinto – HSEQ Qualitative Risk Analysis Handout v2.2, February 2014)

listed in Table 6 to Table 9 respectively. Rio Tinto’s Risk Assessment process is based off AS/NZS

ISO 31000:2009 Risk Management – Principles & Guidelines.

Table 6: Risk Likelihood Ratings

Class Likelihood Likelihood Description Frequency

A Almost certain Recurring event during the life time of the operation / project

Occurs more than twice per year

B Likely Event that may occur frequently during the life time of an operation / project

Typically occurs once or twice per year

C Possible Event that may occur during the life time of an operation / project

Typically occurs in 1-10 years

D Unlikely Event that is unlikely to occur during the life time of an operation / project

Typically occurs in 1-100 years

E Rare Event that is very unlikely to occur during the life time of an operation / project

Greater than 100 year event

Table 7: Maximum Reasonable Consequence Ratings

Class Consequence Consequence Description

1 Minor Near-source confined and promptly reversible impact on-site, with little or no off-site impact expected

2 Medium Near-source confined and short-term reversible impact on-site, with little and promptly reversible off-site impact

3 Serious Near-source confined and medium-term recovery impact on-site, with near-source confined and short-term reversible off-site impact

4 Major Impact that is unconfined and requiring long-term recovery, leaving residual damage on-site with near-source confined and medium-term recovery of off-site impacts

5 Catastrophic

Impact that is widespread (or unconfined) and requiring long-term recovery, leaving major residual damage on-site with off-site impacts that are unconfined and requiring long-term recovery and leaving residual damage



Table 8: Risk matrix

Consequences Likelihood

1 - Minor 2 - Medium 3 - Serious 4 - Major 5 -

Catastrophic

A – Almost Certain Moderate High Critical Critical Critical

B – Likely Moderate High High Critical Critical

C – Possible Low Moderate High Critical Critical

D – Unlikely Low Low Moderate High Critical

E - Rare Low Low Moderate High High

Table 9: Risk Classifications

Risk Class Risk Management Response

CriticalCritical Risks that significantly exceed the risk acceptance threshold and need urgent and effective attention.

High Risks that exceed the risk acceptance threshold and require proactive management. While proactive actions are undertaken, further risk reduction is impracticable suggesting a need for compensatory measures.

Moderate Risks that lie on the risk acceptance threshold and require active monitoring. The implementation of specific safeguards could be used to reduce risks further.

Low Risks that are very unlikely and of low consequence, and do not require active management. Nevertheless, some potential for certain risks to occur remains and could require specific monitoring.

Table 10 below outlines the key identified environmental risks and associated risk ratings. The ratings

assume that the risks are untreated i.e. have not been addressed by specific risk mitigation measures

other than routine design and operational practices.



Table 10: Environmental Risk Assessment

Issue M

an

ag

em

en

t P

lan

Rio

Tin

to S

tan

dard

Exp

lora

tio

n

Pre

str

ipp

ing

Acti

vit

y

(veg

eta

tio

n an

d

top

so

il)

Min

ing

Waste

ro

ck/o

ve

rbu

rden

man

ag

em

en

t

op

era

tio

ns

Reh

ab

ilit

ati

on

Reh

ab

ilit

ate

d l

an

ds

an

d r

em

ain

ing

lan

d

man

ag

em

en

t

Main

ten

an

ce

eq

uip

men

t/ f

acil

itie

s

Min

era

l P

roc

essin

g

Reje

cts

man

ag

em

en

t

op

era

tio

ns

Pro

du

ct

sto

ckp

ilin

g

an

d h

an

dlin

g (

to r

ail

load

ou

t)

Sew

ag

e T

reatm

en

t

No

n-M

inera

l W

aste

Man

ag

em

en

t

Wate

r M

an

ag

em

en

t

incl sto

rm e

ven

t

Air Quality, Dust unless specified Low Mod High High High - Low Mod Low Mod - - -

Erosion and Sedimentation Low Mod Mod Low Mod Low Mod - - - - - Low

Surface Water Low Mod Mod Mod Mod Mod Mod High Low Low High Low High

Ground Water Low - Mod Mod - - Low - Low - Mod Low Mod

Contaminated Land/ Hazardous

Substances

Low - Mod Low Low Mod Mod Low Low Low High Low Mod

Acid Mine Drainage - - Mod Mod Low Low - - Low - - - Mod

Flora and Fauna Low Low Low - Low Mod - - - - - - -

Weeds and Vertebrate Pests - - - - Mod Mod - - - - - - -

Operational Noise Mod High Mod High High - Mod High Low Mod - - Mod

Noise and Vibration Mod Mod High High Mod - Low Low Low Low - - -

Visual and Lighting Low Mod Mod Mod Mod Low Mod Low Low Mod - - -

Heritage (European) Low Mod Low Low Mod Mod - - - - - - -

Heritage (Aboriginal) Low Mod Low Low Mod Mod - - - - - - -

Spontaneous Combustion - - Mod Mod Low - - Mod Low Mod - - -

Bushfire Low - Mod Mod Low Low Low - - - - - -

Mine Subsidence - - - - - - - - - - -

Public Safety Low Low Mod Mod Low Low Mod Low Low - Low Mod Mod

Greenhouse Gas Low Low Mod Mod Low Low Low Low Low Low - - -

Non-Mineral Waste Management - - Low Low - - Low Low - - - Mod -



3.2 Environmental Risk Management

The RTCA Health, Safety, Environment and Quality (HSEQ) Management System streamlines current

management system requirements from the health, safety and environment disciplines, incorporates

current leading practices and supports the Rio Tinto performance standards which are mandatory for

all Rio Tinto businesses. The HSEQ Management System provides for the integration of the existing

Coal & Allied Safety Management System and Coal & Allied Environmental Management System.

This integration streamlines the management activities used to uphold HSE performance.

The HSEQ Management System enables the operations to apply specific tools that support the

implementation, execution and effectiveness of the Rio Tinto health, safety and environmental

performance standards. The HSEQ management system is designed on the principles of continuous

improvement and generally follows the layout of common international standards (including

ISO14001) and the Plan, Do, Check and Review cycle:

Plan identify what is required;

Do implement the activities;

Check monitor performance through checking and corrective action; and

Review evaluate the suitability, adequacy and effectiveness of the system through the

management review.

These steps are subdivided into 17 elements describing the requirements of the system, some of

which will be implemented through the Rio Tinto Business Solution (an online information

management system).

3.2.1 Environmental Management Documents

Management Strategies, Plans and Monitoring Programmes are prepared as required by

development consent /project approval conditions. The Management Strategies and Plans have been

developed with an understanding of the environmental areas that need to be managed and the results

of the environmental assessments, including those required for approval.

Environmental procedures have been established, documented and maintained for all mining related

activities that have a potentially significant impact on the environment. Procedures provide details of

operation and maintenance of facilities, equipment and machinery where required.



Table 11: Environmental Management Documents

RTCA HSEQ System Rio Tinto Environmental Performance Standards

HESQ Management Policy Procedures

1. HSEQ Policy

2. Legal & Other Requirements

3. Hazard Identification & Risk Management

4. HSEQ Management Improvement Planning

5. Organisation, Accountability & Responsibility

6. Training, Competency & Awareness

7. Supplier and Contractor Management

8. Documentation & Document Control

9. Communication & Consultation

10. Operational Control

11. Management of Change

12. Disaster Management & Recovery

13. Measuring & Monitoring

14. Non-conformance, Incident & Action

Management

15. Data & Records Management

16. Performance Assessment & Auditing

17. Management Reviews

E11 Water Quality Protection

E12 Air Quality Protection

E13 Chemically Reactive Mineral Waste Control

E14 Land Disturbance and Rehabilitation Control

E15 Hazardous materials and Non-Mineral

Waste Control

Current Management Plans

Air Quality & Greenhouse Gas Management Plan Noise Management Plan

European Heritage Management Plan Water Management Plan

Aboriginal Heritage Management Plan Rehabilitation Management Plan

Site Biodiversity Management Plan Biodiversity Offset Management Plan

Blast Management Plan

Pollution Incident Response Management Plan

Slope and Dump Management Plan

Acid Rock Drainage and Mineral Waste Management Plan



3.2.2 Specific Risks relating to Rehabilitation

3.2.2.1 Geology and Geochemistry

The general geological context of the mine can be found in section 2.3.1. Below is the summary of

the Geochemical Impact Assessment found in Appendix L of the 2013 Bengalla EIS:

All overburden apart from the Wynn Interburden (Archerfield Sandstone) has negligible (<1%)

sulphur content, excess Acid Neutralising Capacity (ANC) and is classified as Non-Acid

Forming (NAF).

All overburden material, apart from the ASS located above the Wynn seam, has a high factor of safety with respect to potential acid generation. Current management methods for ASS materials at the open cut are sufficient to minimise the risk of any significant impact to the environment;

The concentration of total metals in overburden (and coal reject materials) is well below applied guideline criteria for soils and is unlikely to present any environmental issues associated with revegetation and rehabilitation;

The concentration of trace metals and sulphate in run-off and seepage from overburden will be low;

Overburden will generate alkaline run-off and seepage with low salinity values following surface exposure. The salinity of run-off and seepage from overburden materials is likely to decrease over time;

Some overburden material may be sodic and have structural stability problems related to potential dispersion and erosion;

Coal reject contains elevated sulphur content however the only material that is classified as Potentially Acid Forming (PAF) is from the Wynn seam;

The concentration of trace metals and sulphate from most coal rejects will be low. However, Wynn coal reject materials have the potential to generate elevated concentrations of some metals (Al, Cd, Co, Cu, As, Ni, Se and Zn) if exposed to oxidising conditions; and

Current management methods for Wynn coal reject and other coal reject materials at the open cut are sufficient to minimise the risk of any significant impact to the environment.

Bengalla has an ARD and mineral waste management plan to manage the mineral wastes produced

by mining. This minimises the potential influence of geochemistry issues affecting rehabilitation. It

includes ARD, reject and carbonaceous materials which are all dumped at least 5m below the final

landform. Bengalla’s OEA is net acid neutralising with approximately 93% of the waste going into it

being acid neutralising and approximately 7% comprising of ARD Wynn Interburden or reject material.

These figures are calculated annually through the internal mineral waste inventory memo.

3.2.2.2 Spontaneous Combustion

Coal and other carbonaceous materials can react with oxygen in the atmosphere to produce heat. In

some cases heat can be trapped and the temperature of the material rises. This may lead to

conditions that result in spontaneous combustion. Bengalla shall employ best practice procedures to

minimise the likelihood of this process to occur within the constraints of the overall mining method. As

a broad principle, known reactive materials are to be covered with thick layers of inert waste material.

The maintenance of inert material over potentially reactive waste (as per design criteria) significantly

reduces the risk of spontaneous combustion at Bengalla.

Bengalla has a low potential for spontaneous combustion influencing rehabilitation outcomes as any

prone material is not used in or near rehabilitation works. Historical occurrences of spontaneous

combustion have generally been isolated areas on the highwall where disturbed or oxidised coal has

been left open to the atmosphere for a long period of time resulting in heating. Recently this has been

in the Vaux2 and Warkworth1 coal seams.



The Vaux2 coal seam that has historically heated has been due to wasted sections of the seam

(deteriorating quality) being blasted through as part of an interburden horizon and has been exposed

to oxygen for several month, and when the coaling and drill and blast operations have occurred in the

next strip this has accelerated the oxidisation of the wasted coal. The Dragline has then been

required to dig this material out and bury it low in the OEA (within 100m of the pit floor, at least 100m

below final surface). Management of spontaneous combustion in this seam consists of removing any

wasted coal in the previous strip that is exposed at the top of the interburden to remove this risk,

which has been shown to be effective mitigation.

The Warkworth 1 coal is the highest seam in the coal measures at Bengalla and is prone to

spontaneous combustion when it is both oxidised by the weathering zone and blasted through as part

of the overburden blast. If the Warkworth 1 coal seam spontaneously combusts it is removed by truck

and excavators and buried as low in the OEA as possible from the available dumps active at the time,

encapsulated with inert material well below the final surface.

3.2.2.3 Material Prone to Generating Acid Mine Drainage

Conditions favourable to producing ARD may occur when pyritic material is exposed to the

atmosphere and water which react to produce acidic surface water or groundwater flows. Bengalla

shall employ best practice procedures to minimise the likelihood of either of these processes to occur

within the constraints of the overall mining method. As a broad principle, known reactive materials are

to be covered with thick layers of inert waste material.

As mentioned in 3.2.2.1, Bengalla has an ARD and Mineral Waste Management Plan to manage the

mineral wastes produced by mining. The Wynn Interburden has been identified as being potentially

acid generating although this is very low risk. The management of dumping and encapsulating this

material results in Bengalla having a low potential for acid mine drainage influencing rehabilitation

outcomes.

3.2.2.4 Mine Subsidence

Mine subsidence is not an issue at Bengalla Mine as there is no underground mine activity.

3.2.2.5 Erosion and Sedimentation Control

There is potential for erosion and sedimentation on rehabilitated areas at Bengalla. The management

of this is covered in Bengalla’s Water Management Plan, as well as in the TARP in section 9.2. The

combination of maximum slopes on final landform design, water management on rehabilitation areas,

stabilisation and vegetation all assist in minimising the potential for erosion and sedimentation.

Active mining and rehabilitation areas may utilise drains, dams, contour banks and pipelines to control

erosion and sediment-laden water flow. These structures shall be regularly inspected. Erosion control

within rehabilitated areas may be managed using the following techniques:

Construction of contour banks on steep areas to direct runoff water and minimise riling;

Lined drop structures to collect runoff from contour banks and direct runoff to approved

sedimentation structures;



Ripping prior to seeding to increase water infiltration and soil moisture, and provide a seed bed

for rapid germination; and

Planting of a cover crop on both pasture and tree seeded areas to stabilise the surface.

3.2.2.6 Soil Types and Suitability

Assessments of the suitability of topsoil for use in rehabilitation activities have been undertaken as

part of the 2013 Bengalla EIS. Testing of the physical and nutritional properties of growth mediums is

conducted prior to being used for rehabilitation in order to determine required ameliorants. More

information on topsoil management can be found in sections 2.3.3.4, 2.3.3.5, 2.3.3.6 and 7.2.2

3.2.2.7 Flora and Fauna

Operational areas at Bengalla are located across predominantly Class IV and Class V grazing and

agricultural land which has experienced extensive disturbance in the past. The majority of the leases

have been cleared, grazed and were historically invaded by exotic grasses and shrubs. Species for

the remnant vegetation communities identified in the study have been incorporated into the Woodland

domain, Domain E.

The Bengalla EIS 2013 and Bengalla RTS 2014 includes an Ecological Impact Assessment that

details the Flora and Fauna identified in the study area. This will be used as part of the Ground

Disturbance Permit (GDP) process as per Bengalla’s EMS, and well as required management plans

including the biodiversity management plan.

Bengalla currently manages weed control under two separate management plans, one for the Hunter

River and one for the Bengalla lease areas. These plans form the basis for weed control activities at

Bengalla. The weed management plan for the Hunter River was developed in co-operation with Mt

Arthur Coal in 2005 and covers a 24 kilometre stretch of river (16 kilometres Bengalla owned land and

eight kilometres Mt Arthur Coal owned land).

As an initial response to the annual rehabilitation monitoring programme report (dated December

2014) and annual rehabilitation audit report (dated December 2014), in February 2015 a 10 day weed

management program was undertaken and targeted Boxthorn, Acacia Saligna, Galenia and

Paterson's Curse in rehabilitated land on the OEA (i.e. areas rehabilitated between 2002 and 2013).

The whole site weed management program and the topsoil stockpile weed management program are

ongoing programs and will also continue to be implemented over the MOP period.

3.2.2.8 Air Quality

Air quality monitoring at Bengalla consists of a range of technology to ensure accurate and reliable

monitoring of air quality impacts on the surrounding environment. Bengalla shall operate and manage

an air quality monitoring network in accordance with SSD-5170.

Bengalla aims to proactively manage dust and effectively apply operational controls to reduce or

minimise dust. These controls include, but are not limited to the following practices:



Spraying recycled mine water using a fleet of water carts on trafficked haul roads;

Operation of dust suppression equipment on drills used within the mine site;

Rehabilitation of disturbed areas as soon as practicable to minimise the generation of wind

eroded dust;

Operation of automatic water sprays on coal stockpile areas;

Enclosed ROM hopper with automatic water spray and fully enclosed coal conveyor systems in

exposed areas;

Blasting constraints configured to Bengalla’s real time meteorological and temperature

inversion stations;

Bitumen sealing of frequently travelled roads within the CHPP;

Changes in haul road configuration and utilisation where practical to reduce dust;

Real – time air quality monitoring (24hr PM10) and meteorological data are assessed regularly

with operations relocated, modified and/or stopped as required;

All out-of-pit mining operations (including overburden dumping, shaping and topsoil stripping)

are ceased when the average hourly wind velocity exceeds 5.6 m/s; and

All excavation is stopped if dust was to affect the visibility or safety on adjacent public roads.

3.2.2.9 Slopes and Slope Management

Bengalla operates under a Slope and Dump Management Plan (SDMP) that manages geotechnical

risks across site that includes lowwall stability. This directly relates to the final landform through

ensuring a safe and stable dumps are designed and created during the mining process, and remains

stable during and after rehabilitation.

3.2.2.10 Surface Water

Bengalla’s water management system has been designed to minimise the use of fresh water from the

Hunter River. This is achieved through maximising the recycling of CHPP process water by

dewatering rejects and utilising secondary quality water where possible across site. Wherever

possible mine water and treated sewage water are used for coal processing and dust suppression.

Any required discharge events at Bengalla shall be managed under the guidelines of the Hunter River

Salinity Trading Scheme (HRSTS). It is anticipated that any discharges will continue to remain

infrequent and only be required following periods of prolonged heavy rainfall.

Managing surface and sub-surface water is a challenge for the operation due to a number of different

factors. They include, but are not limited to:

the changing hydrology and availability of pit water;

unreliable rainfall compared with a predicted long-term average; and

variances in water usage and demand.

The Water Management Plan identified dams that shall be monitored for pH, electrical conductivity

(EC) and total suspended solids (TSS) on an annual basis. This monitoring programme provides

necessary baseline data as well as information relating to the impacts, if any, from the mining

operation for all site water resources.



3.2.2.11 Ground Water

To ascertain potential impacts upon groundwater from mining activities at Bengalla a groundwater

monitoring network has been established around the mine and on adjoining land. The monitoring

network targets three aquifers; an unconsolidated aquifer, a shallow hard rock aquifer and a deep

hard rock aquifer.

3.2.2.12 Contaminated Land

Land contamination may occur as a result of hydrocarbon or other chemical spills. Bengalla minimises

any potential risk to the environment from contaminated land with the implementation of a set of

comprehensive control strategies and procedures. Control measures include:

a chemical approval process;

a strong focus on waste management and recycling;

prompt spill response and remediation,

bunding and containment to isolate and prevent site contamination;

updated contaminated land site register;

formal process utilising external contaminated land consultants to decommission contaminated

sites; and

Bengalla operates a bioremediation facility where any soil contaminated with hydrocarbons is

placed for remediation.

3.2.2.13 Greenhouse Gasses, Methane Drainage and Venting

Mining activities involve using large amounts of energy to move large volumes of earth and coal.

Energy use forms a large proportion of our greenhouse gas emissions. By moving material in the

most efficient way possible, energy use is reduced, along with greenhouse gas emissions and costs.

Bengalla tracks energy use for every unit of work completed. In addition to the emissions produced

from the energy Bengalla use, total greenhouse gas emissions include fugitive emissions. Fugitive

emissions of carbon dioxide and methane naturally occur in coal seams and are released to the

atmosphere during the mining process.

It is important that Bengalla contributes to climate change solutions and invests in research and

development initiatives to find ways to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions throughout the coal

chain.

Bengalla (and Coal & Allied) actively manages the energy footprint and greenhouse gas emissions

profile. Bengalla has a climate change programme which has objectives in four key areas:

The active research and promotion of technologies that reduce carbon dioxide emissions from

the use of coal;

The improved use of energy at our operations, projects and supply chain;

Designing future projects with energy efficiency and climate change risks considered; and

Raising awareness amongst stakeholders that climate change is an issue that requires us all to

change how we currently operate.



3.2.2.14 Blasting

Blasting at Bengalla is managed as per the site’s EMS procedures and conditions of SSD-5170.

Bengalla’s standard blast design guidelines, which include blast face profiling to ensure that the ‘front’

row of any free face blasts has sufficient burden to prevent a ‘blowout’ of explosive force shall be

utilised in all blasts designed. The burden and spacing design incorporates pattern tie-ups to

minimise environmental impacts such as dust, fume, air blast and also vibration which has proven

successful over the blast events this year. High Precision GPS systems and survey control maintain

the accuracy of drill positioning and hole depth within the blasting patterns to minimise blasting

impact. Computer programmes that simulate blast patterns are also used to further reduce the

impacts of blasting.

Prior to each blast being undertaken, the RTEMS system shall be accessed and data from Bengalla’s

meteorological station used to determine the potential effects of blasting at the scheduled blast time.

Wind speed, wind direction and temperature inversion are all to be taken into account when

determining suitability of blast time. The location of the blast in the pit and size of the area being

blasted shall also be considered to ensure minimal blasting impacts occur. The scheduled blast will

be postponed if wind speed, wind direction or temperature inversion changes do not meet the

specified Bengalla blasting criteria (Bengalla Meteorological Restrictions for Blasting) unless other

circumstances related to safety prevail.

Blast monitoring units are installed to fulfil the site’s regulatory requirements in relation to blast

monitoring. The blast monitoring system operates in real time, relaying blast results to a website that

is accessible 24 hours a day by Bengalla staff.

3.2.2.15 Noise

To comply with development consent conditions, BMC implements the following noise management

measures to minimise noise as far as practical at private receivers:

Review of local forecasted meteorology to predict potential noise enhancing conditions and plan

operations;

Operation of a real time noise monitoring system and supplementary attended monitoring at

night to provide feedback regarding the operation’s acoustic performance;

Operation of mobile plant in shielded sections of the mining area during the night period;

Completion of surface work, including clearing, topsoil stripping, stockpiling and rehabilitation,

during the day period;

Mine planning for the scheduling and siting of active dump areas and haul roads away from

impacted private receivers during night time operations;

Construction of noise and visual bunds and tree screens surrounding the operation;

Installation of noise attenuation units on mobile and some fixed plant;

Regular maintenance of all mobile plant to manufacturer’s specification;

Design and construction of the ROM hopper with best practice modifications;

Regular independent attended noise monitoring surveys at representative private receiver

locations;

Consideration of noise impacts during risk assessments and change management procedures

for substantive changes to operating conditions; and

Provision of noise awareness training to all employees.



3.2.2.16 Visual and Lighting

To manage any offsite lighting impacts and ensure that the visual amenity of surrounding residences

is impacted as little as possible, Bengalla will continue to follow a stringent set of guidelines, which is

documented in the site’s EMS. Various management techniques may be utilised for the control and

minimisation of visual impacts, which include:

light casing, direction assessment and consideration of light source observable off site

monitored;

visual bunds established to improve the visual amenity of the site;

training and awareness initiatives are provided to educate employees about the sensitivity of

Bengalla’s proximity to local residents and the need to minimise stray light;

an annual visual impact survey;

nightly attended monitoring by mining personnel; and

all new lighting installed meets specification in Bengalla’s EIS/EA.

3.2.2.17 Heritage (European and Aboriginal)

Issues relating to Aboriginal cultural heritage are managed in accordance with the National Parks and

Wildlife Amendment Act 2010 and the EP&A Act via Bengalla’s Aboriginal Cultural Heritage

Management Plan.

Bengalla acknowledges the cultural importance that Aboriginal archaeological sites represent to the

local Aboriginal people. Sites that have been identified and do not have an Aboriginal Heritage Impact

Permit (A HIP) and are close to mining operations are protected by fencing and signage to prevent

accidental disturbance and to assist in safeguarding the condition of these sites for future years.

Archaeological and heritage assessments are to be undertaken prior to any new mining activities, in

consultation with the local Aboriginal community. The significance of each site shall be assessed to

determine the need for further investigation and whether there are any options for conservation.

Where mining will impact upon Aboriginal sites, an Aboriginal Heritage Impact Permit (previously S.90

Consent to Destroy) shall be sought from the Director-General of the OEH.

Two areas of European heritage significance, as listed in the Heritage Act register of Heritage Orders,

Hunter Regional Plan Heritage schedule and the National Trust register, are the Bengalla homestead

(c1877) and Overdene property (c1860), which have both been listed as items of local significance.

In addition to these homesteads, Bengalla will continue to perform maintenance on a number of other

heritage areas on its landholdings including the Keys Family Cemetery and Overton homestead.

3.2.2.18 Bushfires

The objectives of bushfire management at Bengalla are to minimise the risk of bushfires and rapidly

control outbreaks should they occur. Bengalla has in place a number of effective measures for the

prevention and control of bushfires which include periodically slashing roadsides verges, maintaining

tree-lot undergrowth areas free of grass and fuel build-up and grazing of pastures. A fully equipped

mobile fire-fighting unit, along with a current fleet of five water carts (70-80,000L capacity each) is

also on hand should a fire outbreak occur within the lease holding.



3.2.2.19 Public Safety

In the context of this MOP, public safety at Bengalla relates to access to the operation from public

roads. The open-cut operation is fenced, gated and signposted at the boundary perimeter to prevent

trespassers from accessing the mine.



4 Post Mining Land Use

4.1 Regulatory Requirements

The regulatory requirements specific to post mining land use at Bengalla are summarised in Table 12.

The conditions provided in the mining leases apply only to the land within each lease. The conditions

provided in the Development Consent apply to the land within the approved operations

Table 12: Regulatory Requirements

Reference Requirement

Mining Lease

ML 1397,

Condition 8

[22]

If so directed by the Minister, the lease holder shall rehabilitate to the satisfaction of

the Minister any lands within the subject area which may have been disturbed by

the lease holder.

ML 1397,

Condition 9

[23]

Upon completion of operations on the surface of the subject area or upon the expiry

or sooner determinations of this authority or any renewal thereof, the lease holder

shall remove from such surface such buildings, machinery, plant, equipment,

constructions and works as may be directed by the Minister and such surface shall

be rehabilitated and left in a clean, tidy and safe condition to the satisfaction of the

Minister.

ML 1397,

Condition 10

[24]


the Minister and within such time as may be allowed by the Minister any lands

within the subject area which may have been disturbed by mining or prospecting

operations whether such operations were or were not carried out by the lease

holder.

ML 1450,

Condition 8

If so directed by the Minister the lease holder shall rehabilitate to the satisfaction of


the lease holder.

ML 1450,

Condition 9

Upon completion of operations on the surface of the subject area or upon the expiry

or sooner determination of this authority or any renewal thereof, the lease holder

shall remove from such surface such buildings, machinery, plant, equipment,



Minister.

ML 1450,

Condition 10





holder.

ML 1469,

Condition 21

If so directed by the Minister the lease holder shall rehabilitate to the satisfaction of


the lease holder.

ML 1469, Upon completion of operations on the surface of the subject area or upon the expiry

or sooner determination of this authority or any renewal thereof, the lease holder



Condition 22 shall remove from such surface such buildings, machinery, plant, equipment,



Minister.

ML 1469,

Condition 23





holder.

MLA 493 To be determined (Mining Lease Conditions (Coal) 2013)

MLA 494 To be determined (Mining Lease Conditions (Coal) 2013)

ML 1711

Condition 2

Rehabilitation Any disturbance resulting from the activities carried out under this mining lease must be rehabilitated to the satisfaction of the Minister.

ML 1711

Condition 3

Mining Operations Plan and Annual Rehabilitation Report (a) The lease holder must comply with an approved Mining Operations Plan

(MOP) in carrying out any significant surface disturbing activities, including mining operations, mining purposes and prospecting. The lease holder must apply to the Minister for approval of a MOP. An approved MOP must be in place prior to commencing any significant surface disturbing activities, including mining operations, mining purposes and prospecting.

(b) The MOP must identify the post mining land use and set out a detailed rehabilitation strategy which: (i) identifies areas that will be disturbed; (ii) details the staging of specific mining operations, mining purposes and

prospecting; (iii) identifies how the mine will be managed and rehabilitated to achieve

the post mining land use; (iv) identifies how mining operations, mining purposes and prospecting will

be carried out in order to prevent and or minimise harm to the environment; and

(v) reflects the conditions of approval under: • the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979; • the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997; and • any other approvals relevant to the development including the conditions of this mining lease.

(c) The MOP must be prepared in accordance with the ESG3: Mining Operations Plan (MOP) Guidelines September 2013 published on the Department’s website at www.resources.nsw.gov.au/environment.

(d) The lease holder may apply to the Minister to amend an approved MOP at any time.

(e) It is not a breach of this condition if: (i) the operations which, but for this condition 3(e) would be a breach of

condition 3(a), were necessary to comply with a lawful order or direction given under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997, the Mine Health and Safety Act 2004 / Coal Mine Health and Safety Act 2002 and Mine Health and Safety Regulation 2007 / Coal Mine Health and Safety Regulation 2006 or the Work Health and Safety Act 2011; and

(ii) the Minister had been notified in writing of the terms of the order or direction prior to the operations constituting the breach being carried out.

(f) The lease holder must prepare a Rehabilitation Report to the satisfaction of the Minister. The report must: (i) provide a detailed review of the progress of rehabilitation against the

http://www.resources.nsw.gov.au/environment



performance measures and criteria established in the approved MOP; (ii) be submitted annually on the grant anniversary date (or at such other

times as agreed by the Minister); and (iii) be prepared in accordance with any relevant annual reporting

guidelines published on the Department’s website at www.resources.nsw.gov.au/environment.

Note: The Rehabilitation Report replaces the Annual Environmental Management Report.

ML 1711

Condition 4

Compliance Report (a) The lease holder must submit a Compliance Report to the satisfaction of the

Minister. The report must be prepared in accordance with any relevant guidelines or requirements published by the Minister for compliance reporting.

(b) The Compliance Report must include: (i) the extent to which the conditions of this mining lease or any

provisions of the Act or the regulations applicable to activities under this mining lease, have or have not been complied with;

(ii) particulars of any non-compliance with any such conditions or provisions,

(iii) the reasons for any such non-compliance; (iv) any action taken, or to be taken, to prevent any recurrence, or to

mitigate the effects, of that non-compliance. (c) The Compliance Report must be lodged with the Department annually on the

grant anniversary date for the life of this mining lease. (d) In addition to annual lodgement under condition 4(c) above, a Compliance

Report: (i) must accompany any application to renew this mining lease under the

Act; (ii) must accompany any application to transfer this mining lease under

the Act; and (iii) must accompany any application to cancel, or to partially cancel, this

mining lease under the Act. (e) Despite the submission of any Compliance Report under (c) or (d) above, the

titleholder must lodge a Compliance Report with the Department at any date or dates otherwise required by the Minister.

(f) A Compliance Report must be submitted one month prior to the expiry of this mining lease, where the licence holder is not seeking to renew or cancel this mining lease.

ML 1711

Condition 5

Environmental Incident Report (a) The lease holder must notify the Department of all:

(i) breaches of the conditions of this mining lease or breaches of the Act causing or threatening material harm to the environment; and

(ii) breaches of environmental protection legislation causing or threatening material harm to the environment (as defined in the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997),

arising in connection with significant surface disturbing activities, including mining operations, mining purposes and prospecting operations, under this mining lease. The notification must be given immediately after the lease holder becomes aware of the breach. Note. Refer to www.resources.nsw.gov.au/environment for notification contact details.

(b) The lease holder must submit an Environmental Incident Report to the Department within seven (7) days of all breaches referred to in condition 5(a)(i) and (ii). The Environmental Incident Report must include: (i) the details of the mining lease; (ii) contact details for the lease holder; (iii) a map identifying the location of the incident and where material harm

to the environment has or is likely to occur; (iv) a description of the nature of the incident or breach, likely causes and

consequences; (v) a timetable showing actions taken or planned to address the incident

http://www.resources.nsw.gov.au/environment



and to prevent future incidents or breaches referred to in 5(a). (vi) a summary of all previous incidents or breaches which have occurred

in the previous 12 months relating to significant surface disturbing activities, including mining operations, mining purposes and prospecting operations under this mining lease.

Note. The lease holder should have regard to any relevant Director General’s guidelines in the preparation of an Environmental Incident Report. Refer to www.resources.nsw.gov.au/environment for further details.

(c) In addition to the requirements set out in conditions 5(a) and (b), the lease holder must immediately advise the Department of any notification made under section 148 of the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 arising in connection with significant surface disturbing activities including mining

ML 1711

Condition 8

Group Security The lease holder is required to provide and maintain a security deposit to secure funding for the fulfilment of obligations of all or any kind under the mining lease, including obligations of all or any kind under the mining lease that may arise in the future. The amount of the security deposit to be provided as a group security has been assessed by the Minister at $49,100,000. The leases covered by the group security include: Mining Lease 1397 (Act 1992), Mining Lease 1450 (Act 1992), Mining Lease 1469 (Act 1992) and Mining Lease 1592 (Act 1992 This group security is extended to apply to this lease.

ML 1711

Condition 9

Cooperation Agreement The lease holder must make every reasonable attempt, and be able to demonstrate its attempts, to enter into a cooperation agreement with the holder(s) of any overlapping title(s). The cooperation agreement should address but not be limited to issues such as: • access arrangements • operational interaction procedures • dispute resolution • information exchange • well location • timing of drilling • potential resource extraction conflicts; and • rehabilitation issues.

Development Consent SSD-5170 (Modification 1)

Schedule 2,

Condition 5

LIMITS ON CONSENT Mining Operations The Applicant may carry out mining operations on the site until 28 February 2039. Note: Under this consent, the Applicant is required to rehabilitate the site and perform additional undertakings to the satisfaction of either the Secretary or the DRE. Consequently this consent will continue to apply in all other respects other than the right to conduct mining operations until the rehabilitation of the site and these additional undertakings have been carried out satisfactorily.

Schedule 3,

Condition 44

Rehabilitation Objectives

The Applicant shall rehabilitate the site to the satisfaction of the DRE. The rehabilitation must comply with the objectives in Table 15 and be consistent with the conceptual final landform plan shown in Appendix 9.

Table 15: Rehabilitation Objectives

Feature Objective

Mine site (as a whole) Safe, stable and non-polluting

Final landforms designed to incorporate natural micro-relief and natural drainage lines, which, where reasonable and feasible, further avoid straight run drainage drop structures, to integrate with surrounding landforms

Overburden Emplacement Area – exposed to

Rehabilitate the entire face with high density woody vegetation as soon as practicable following the



Muswellbrook and Denman completion of mining operations

Final void Designed as a long term groundwater sink and to maximise groundwater flows across back-filled pits to the final void

Minimise to the greatest extent practicable: o the size and depth of the final void

o the drainage catchment of the final void

o any high wall instability risk

o risk of flood interaction (flows in and out of the

void)

Maximise to the greatest extent practicable the final void landform to be in keeping with the natural terrain features of the surrounding landscape

Agricultural land Restore or maintain land capability generally as described in the EIS and shown conceptually in Appendix 9

Revegetation areas Restore a minimum 10% treed coverage at the mine site

Higher density planting along the riparian zone of the Dry Creek reinstatement, and around the final void

Dry Creek

reinstatement

No net loss of creek length

Restore, maintain and/or improve hydrological and ecological function, quality and geomorphic stability

Incorporate erosion control measures based on vegetation and engineering revetments

Revegetate with suitable native species

Surface infrastructure To be decommissioned and removed, unless DRE agrees otherwise

Community Ensure public safety

Minimise the adverse socio-economic effects associated with mine closure

Schedule 3,

Condition 45

Progressive Rehabilitation

The Applicant shall carry out rehabilitation progressively, that is, as soon as reasonably practicable following disturbance (particularly on the face of emplacements that are visible off-site). Interim stabilisation measures must be implemented where reasonable and feasible to control dust emissions in disturbed areas that are not active and which are not ready for final rehabilitation. Note: It is accepted that parts of the site that are progressively rehabilitated may be subject to further disturbance in future.

Schedule 3,

Condition 46

Rehabilitation Management Plan

The Applicant shall prepare and implement a Rehabilitation Management Plan for the development to the satisfaction of the DRE. This plan must: (a) be submitted to the DRE for approval within 6 months of the date of this consent; (b) be prepared in consultation with the Department, DPI-Water, OEH, Council and the CCC; (c) be prepared in accordance with relevant DRE guidelines; (d) describe how the rehabilitation of the site would be integrated with the implementation of

the biodiversity offset strategy; (e) include detailed performance and completion criteria for evaluating the performance of

the rehabilitation of the site, including over the long term following completion of mining operations, and triggering remedial action (if necessary);

(f) describe the design specifications and measures that would be implemented to ensure compliance with the relevant conditions of this consent, and address all aspects of rehabilitation including mine closure, final landform including final voids, and final land use;

(g) include interim rehabilitation where necessary to minimise the area exposed for dust generation;

(h) include a research program that seeks to improve the understanding and application of rehabilitation techniques and methods in the Hunter Valley;

(i) include a schedule for establishment of native vegetation corridors and habitat linkages across the site;

(j) include a landscape management plan for the proposed Bengalla Link Road realignment; (k) include a plan for the reinstatement of Dry Creek including:



o detailed design specifications for the reinstatement of the creek;

o a schedule of works describing how the reinstatement work would be staged and

integrated with mining operations and the final landform; o a revegetation program;

o hydrological, ecological and geomorphic performance and completion criteria for the

reinstated creek based on the assessment of baseline conditions; and o a program to monitor, maintain and/or improve the hydrological and ecological

function, quality and geomorphic stability of the reinstated creek; (l) include a program to monitor, independently audit and report on the effectiveness of the

measures, and progress against the detailed performance and completion criteria; and

(m) build to the maximum extent practicable on other management plans required under this

consent.

The Applicant shall implement the approved management plan as approved from time to time by the Secretary.

Appendix 9

Conceptual

Final

Landform

4.2 Post Mining Land Use Goal

In accordance with the conditions of Development Consent (SSD-5170) Modification 1, Bengalla is

required to address all aspects of rehabilitation, including the development of post mining land use

objectives and the implementation of measures to achieve such objectives.

Bengalla has committed to develop an undulating, free draining post mining landform that is

consistent with the surrounding environment. The majority of the post mining landform will support a

mixture of native bushland and agriculture (i.e. cattle grazing) with the exception of the face of the

OEA that is exposed to Muswellbrook and Denman which will be rehabilitated with high density woody

vegetation. Rehabilitation will be conducted progressively, focusing on linking remnant vegetation

with rehabilitation and using pastoral and native bushland seed mixes which contain native species

and have proven successful in previous use.

The future reinstatement of Dry Creek will closely resemble existing conditions at the site while

maintaining the potential for stream energy during peak flows to be dissipated through bed friction and

minimised movements and will aim to be reproduced to a quality similar or greater to that which

currently exists. Rehabilitation areas will be monitored to ensure that rehabilitation objectives are

being met and that the revegetation and long term landform suitability is achieved. This approach is

consistent with the objectives provided in SSD-5170, the Environmental Impact Statement for the

Continuation of Bengalla Mine (Hansen Bailey, 2013) and the Continuation of Bengalla Mine



Response to Submissions (Hansen Bailey, 2014).

The post mining land uses were nominated as feasible practices on the rehabilitated landform

considering:

Slope, land class, soil types and water requirements;

Community and stakeholder acceptance;

Health and safety considerations;

Regulatory requirements and legal liability; and

Contribution to the local economy and employment.

The conceptual final rehabilitated landform design and land use domains are provided on Plan 4.

As part of the mine closure process, BMC is committed to the achievement of leading practice

completion criteria, as this will ensure the long term protection and management of the post mine

landscape and its biodiversity, aesthetic and agricultural values. Rehabilitation completion criterion

for Bengalla is provided in Section 6.

4.3 Rehabilitation Objectives

The rehabilitation objectives for the project are described in Schedule 3 Condition 44 of the

Development Consent which has been listed in section 4.1, previous.



5 Rehabilitation Planning

5.1 Domain Selection

Primary domains are defined as land management units within the mine site, usually with unique

operational and functional purpose and therefore similar geophysical characteristics. Secondary

domains are land management units characterised by a similar post mining land use objective.

It is likely that most domains will require a different rehabilitation methodology to achieve the intended

post-mining land use. Domains for Bengalla have been determined in consideration of the specific

requirements of the mining location and local environment. The key domains for Bengalla, as shown

in PLAN2, PLAN3Series and PLAN4, which are indicative of the operation and are approximate only

which may vary from time to time and are outlined in Table 13.

Table 13: Bengalla Primary and Secondary Domains

Code Primary Domain (Operational) Code Secondary Domain (Post Mining Land Use)

6 Active Void I Final Void

3 Water Management K Rehabilitation Area – Class III Pasture

1 Infrastructure D Rehabilitation Area – Pasture

4 Overburden Emplacement Area E Rehabilitation Area – Woodland

5 Topsoil Stockpiles L Rehabilitation Area – Dry Creek Reinstatement

10 Temporary Stabilisation M Tree Restoration Areas

Further information on these domains and the key issues that pertain to their management is provided

in the following sections. It should be noted that Primary Domains will change in both area and shape

as the mine progresses whereas the Secondary Domains will remain the same which are based on

the Post Mining Land Use. In other words, typically a unit of land that is planned to be mined will

cycle through several primary domains before it finishes up with a secondary domain when it is

rehabilitated. An example of this is:

1- The Land unit may start off as either infrastructure or water management,

2- As mining approaches it, it will become an active void when it is mined through,

3- Then once mined will become an Overburden emplacement area,

4- It may then become a topsoil stockpile on the overburden once final landform is reached,

5- Until finally when it’s operational requirement is complete it will transition into a secondary

domain to become rehabilitated.

The secondary domains have been designed to exist over the majority of the lease area for

completeness, although if the land has not been disturbed for the purposes of mining it will not be

classed as rehabilitation and therefore not be required to meet the associated completion criteria. In



addition to this the Bengalla Homestead area has been excluded from the secondary domains due to

its heritage listing.

As with the establishment of the planned domains, there will evidently be blending between domains

where different vegetation species are listed. This is to be expected and will be monitored through

rehabilitation monitoring programs and if required changed through successive MOP updates or

AEMR reports.

The guidelines require creation and reporting of combined Primary and Secondary Domain land units

in several sections of the MOP although due to the changing nature of Primary Domains outlined

previously, this complicates the process. For simplification, some sections of this MOP will focus on

rehabilitation in terms of the Secondary domains only since these Domains primarily relate to

Rehabilitation and Post Mining Land Use and the Primary Domain component in terms of Bengalla

Mine is typically managed in the first phase of rehabilitation - decommissioning.

5.1.1 Primary Domains

5.1.1.1 Domain 6 - Active Void

There will be one main Active Void during the MOP period. In addition to this there will be the satellite

pit that will be developed ahead of mining and will be merged back into the main void over the MOP

period It is defined by the active highwall/extraction area where mining occurs. It is aligned generally

north-south, has a strike length of approximately 3.0km and moves westward as mining progresses.

5.1.1.2 Domain 3 - Water Management

Water Management areas include the network of dams, pipes, pumps, and water contours/diversions

that compose the Bengalla water management system and that is in place to control the movement of

both clean and mine water around the site.

5.1.1.3 Domain 1 - Infrastructure

Infrastructure areas assist in the mining process and are largely split into either the Main\Mine

Infrastructure Area (MIA) where mostly permanent infrastructure is, and Inpit infrastructure that moves

around as the mine progresses. The main infrastructure items are listed in section 2.2.

5.1.1.4 Domain 4 - Overburden Emplacements Areas

Overburden Emplacement Areas (OEA) store the waste rock and reject material (placed into cells and

capped) created during the mining process to uncover coal. The OEA continues to grow in a westerly

direction following and filling the Void created by mining. Once the OEA has reached the designed

final landform height and there is no longer a need for the space operationally, the rehabilitation

process can start, beginning with decommissioning and landform establishment.

5.1.1.5 Domain 5 - Topsoil Stockpiles

Topsoil stockpiles are created when topsoil stripped from mining cannot be utilised immediately in the

rehabilitation process. There will always be a requirement for base load of topsoil stockpiles required

as this will be used to rehabilitate the active mining areas, the size being a balance between the

available resource being recovered, the size of the active mining area, and the rehabilitation

requirements on the OEA. There will generally be a need for a combination of short (<3 months),



medium (<5 years) and long (>5 years) term stockpiles. Medium and long term topsoil stockpiles will

be sown with the sites pasture mix which can be found in section 7.2.5.1.

5.1.1.6 Domain 10 – Temporary Stabilisation

Areas of temporary rehabilitation maybe required in the operational area when large areas will

become inactive but the future operational requirements are not complete. These areas are

temporarily stabilised to minimise visual and dust impacts if they will remain inactive for long periods

of time.

5.1.2 Secondary Domains

5.1.2.1 Domain I - Final Void

The Final Void is the remnant open pit left at mine closure. Defined by a single void, its modelled long

term water level is 70RL at 1000 years, and will have sufficient freeboard and as such, will not require

a spillway as it is not free draining. It will be created in 2039 which is the expiry of the Development

Consent. The void will be aligned generally north-south and will have a strike length of approximately

3.0km.

The currently approved location of the final void is at the limit of approved open cut mining at this

stage and, has no alternative location. However, recoverable coal reserves have been identified to the

west of currently approved mining operations at Bengalla. Should Bengalla be granted approval to

continue mining to uncover these reserves, the location of the final void will change.

All slopes will be battered back to ensure long term geotechnical stability. Surface water drainage on

and over the lowwall will be minimised through the construction of drainage control structures with the

aim of diverting as much of the catchment as possible away from the final void and back into the

surface water system.

5.1.2.2 Domain K – Rehabilitation Area – Class III Pasture

Class III Pasture is a small domain on the top of the OEA with minimal slopes, created from soils

recovered from the Southern Overburden Emplacement Area (SOEA) approved in Modification 4 of

the development consent DA211/93 . The soil profile is the main difference between Domains B and

C as the soil recovered from the SOEA area prior to emplacement was used to re-create a Class III

land capability.

5.1.2.3 Domain D - Rehabilitation Area - Pasture

Class IV and V Pasture areas cover the majority of the Post Mining Landform. Pasture areas will be

reconstructed from mostly exotic species that have been proven overtime on both farms and mines in

the upper hunter valley and can be safely used. The pasture species list is found in section 7.2.5.1.

Native vegetation (selected from the Woodland Domain) will be included in the Pasture areas to

create biodiversity connectivity through native vegetation corridors as well as windbreaks and wood

lots for stock shelter. Grazing productivity will be in accordance with land capability.

5.1.2.4 Domain E - Rehabilitation Areas - Woodland

The Woodland domain is predominantly the high density woody vegetation area required for the

eastern faces of the OEA. The predominant species for this domain come from Grey Box – Ironbark

Woodland and Ironbark – Spotted Gum – Grey Box Woodland. The current species list contains a

range of other species as well as the dominant eucalyptus species which provides greater diversity



and is typical of some of the more intact remnant communities in the Upper Hunter Valley, and can be

found in section 7.2.5.2

5.1.2.5 Domain L - Rehabilitation Areas – Dry Creek Reinstatement

The Dry Creek reinstatement domain will reinstate areas of Dry Creek to mimic existing conditions

while maintaining the potential for stream energy during peak flows to be dissipated through bed

friction and minimised movements. The aim is to reproduce the domain to a quality similar or greater

to which currently exists by using collected pre mining baseline ecological information. It will contain

species that are characteristic of the Hunter Floodplain Red Gum Woodland Community in the

reconstructed bed and riparian areas. This domain is bound by areas of pasture so these pasture

species will naturally integrate over time.

5.1.2.6 Domain M – Tree Restoration Areas

This section contains requirements to tree corridors and tree restoration areas as indicated in the

revised conceptual final landform in the SSD-5170 consent conditions, 2014 Response to

submissions and the 2013 EIS.

5.2 Domain Rehabilitation Objectives

The rehabilitation objectives (at completion) for the domains identified in Section 5.1 are defined in

Table 14. They have been adapted from development consent requirements into simple biophysical

objectives that will be used to identify the relevant performance indicators for each secondary domain.

It is considered that since Primary Domains are operational and do not form part of the post mining

land use, therefore only secondary domains will have final rehabilitation objectives

Table 14: Rehabilitation Objectives

Domain Final Rehabilitation Objective

Primary Domains

Domain 6 - Active Void Infrastructure decommissioned and rehabilitated to the

relevant Secondary Domain Objectives

Domain 3 - Water Management Infrastructure decommissioned and rehabilitated to the


Domain 1 - Infrastructure Areas Infrastructure decommissioned and rehabilitated to the


Domain 4 - Overburden

Emplacement Areas

Infrastructure decommissioned and rehabilitated to the


Domain 5 - Topsoil Stockpiles Infrastructure decommissioned and rehabilitated to the




Domain Final Rehabilitation Objective

Domain 10 – Temporary

Stabilisation

Infrastructure decommissioned and rehabilitated to the


Secondary Domains

Domain I –

Final Void

Safe, stable and non-polluting,

Water quality from rehabilitation areas are non-polluting.

Specific Rehabilitation conditions are met

Domain K –

Rehabilitation Area – Class III

Pasture


Integrates into surrounding landforms and is suitable for Post Mining Land Use.

Soil/growth medium chemical and physical properties are suitable for establishment of the post mining land use.

Established ecosystem is suitable for agreed post mining

land use



Domain D -

Rehabilitation Area – Pasture





land use



Domain E –

Rehabilitation Area – Woodland





land use



Domain L –

Rehabilitation Area – Dry Creek

Reinstatement





land use



Domain M –

Tree Restoration Areas Specific Rehabilitation conditions are met



5.3 Rehabilitation Phases

The ultimate rehabilitation objective at Bengalla is for the post-mining land use to be compatible with

surrounding land uses and provide environmental and community benefits. This will be achieved

through a series of conceptual phases which are described as:

Phase 1 – Decommissioning

Phase 2 – Landform Establishment

Phase 3 – Growing Media Development

Phase 4 – Ecosystem and Landuse Establishment

Phase 5 – Ecosystem and Landuse Sustainability

Phase 6 – Land Relinquishment

5.3.1 Decommissioning

In the context of this MOP, decommissioning is the first phase of rehabilitation initiated by the process

where an operational activity in a given area is completed and can now transition from a primary

domain into a secondary domain and begin the first phase of rehabilitation by removing physical

components installed by the mining process. Depending on the Primary domain the area has

transitioned from, the amount of decommissioning will vary, i.e.: for the OEA minor mobile equipment

will be required to be moved quickly, whereas for permanent infrastructure areas a more involved

structural and chemical decommissioning process will be required. The performance indicators and

completion criteria, together with the reference and source for this data as it relates to the

decommissioning stage are provided in Table 16.

5.3.2 Landform Establishment

In the context of this MOP, Landform Establishment is the processes involved to achieve a stable final

landform including slopes, erosion controls, and drainage lines with integrated landscape features,

which are compatible with surrounding landforms. Landform establishment includes the activities of

shaping unformed rock or other sub-stratum material into a desired land surface profile, which

includes earthworks activities such as cut and fill, rock raking, water storage and drainage

construction.

The performance indicators and completion criteria, together with the reference and source which

describe structures and method for this data, as relate to the Landform Establishment Stage are

provided in Table 17 and address: stabilising landforms; minimising erosion; preventing water

pollution; preventing access to open pits or other hazardous locations; enhancing visual amenity; and

site user, stock and fauna safety.

The final landform and rehabilitation domain types for Bengalla during the life of the MOP are shown

on PLANS 3A – 3G inclusive. The final landform and land-use at closure and completion of

rehabilitation are shown in Plan 4.



5.3.3 Growth Media Development

In the context of this MOP, Growth Media Development incorporates the initial processes involved to

achieve a soil which is capable of supporting a sustainable plant community. Even though soil

structure can take years or decades to develop which is an ongoing process as the ecosystem

develops, only performance indicators that are required for the initial development of the growth

medium will be included, allowing the rehabilitation to progress into the next phase of ecosystem and

land-use development. Growth Media indicators will also be included in future phases to reflect the

natural cycle. The performance indicators and completion criteria, together with the reference and

source are provided in Table 18. It includes consideration of the chemical, physical and biological

properties of the media and takes into account issues such as soil ameliorants aligned to the

revegetation of the disturbed areas, whilst also incorporating consideration of land-use that may

deviate from the traditional post mining land-use.

5.3.4 Ecosystem and Land-use Establishment

In the context of this MOP, Ecosystem and Land use Establishment incorporates the requirements

for: the management and control of fire, weed and vertebrate pest species; establishment of correct

flora species selection in terms of the planned end use; suitable land capability classes; the

development of systems to enhance opportunities for nutrient cycling; development and enhancement

of habitat for key fauna species; the optimal use of onsite resources, e.g. woody debris, rock and

mulch.

Rehabilitation at Bengalla is generally divided into areas of improved groundcover for agricultural

purposes and native vegetation (native over storey) ecosystems. The framework for the development

of the performance indicators and completion criteria for ecosystem and land use establishment are

provided in Table 19.

5.3.5 Ecosystem and Land-use Sustainability

In the context of this MOP, Ecosystem and Land use Sustainability incorporates the: development of

profiles in the growing media; development of land usage which is consistent with surrounding areas;

vegetation communities capable of withstanding severe events, for example drought, bushfires and

storms; nutrient cycling; species diversity and abundance for both flora and fauna; re-colonisation of

the site by key indicator species; and suitable Land Capability classes. The performance indicators

and completion criteria which describe structures an methods for this phase of rehabilitation are

provided in Table 20.

5.3.6 Relinquishment

In the context of this MOP, Relinquishment can be achieved once all completion criteria for Phase 5 –

Ecosystem and Land-use Sustainability has been completed. No further completion criteria is

required and the formal process to relinquish the mining lease can begin.



5.3.7 Rehabilitation Phases at the end of the MOP

Table 15: Summary of rehabilitation phases proposed for completion at the end of the MOP

Domain

Rehabilitation Phase

I -

Fin

al V

oid

K –

Reha

bili

tation A

rea

–

Cla

ss III P

astu

re

D –

Re

hab

ilita

tio

n A

rea –

Pastu

re

E –

Reha

bili

tation A

rea

–

Woo

dla

nd

L –

Reha

bili

tation A

rea –

Dry

Cre

ek R

ein

sta

tem

en

t

M –

T

ree R

esto

ration

Are

as

Phase 0 Active Mining Area

Phase 1 Decommissioning

Phase 2 Landform Establishment

Phase 3 Growth Medium Development

Phase 4 Ecosystem and Land Use Establishment

Phase 5 Ecosystem and Land Use Sustainability

Phase 6 Relinquished Lands

= Complete, = not complete.

Note: Most of rehabilitation domains in the table above are not shown as being progressed through

the phases until mining is complete since these domains exist over the entire final landform. This

should not be confused with the actual progression of rehabilitation which can be seen in the PLAN 3

Series.



6 Performance Indicators and Completion Criteria

6.1 Completion Criteria

Performance indicators and completion criteria have been developed for each secondary domain in accordance with the range of project related documentation i.e. Bengalla EIS and RTS and the Project Approval, as well as reference to guidelines, standards and scientific literature or other sources such as rehabilitation trials and analogue sites, as appropriate. This information is presented in the Rehabilitation Tables; Table 16, Table 17, Table 18, Table 19, Table 20 and Table 21.

The performance indicators are attributes of the biophysical environment e.g. pH, slope, that can be used to approximate the progression of a biophysical process and can be measured to demonstrate and track the progress of an aspect of rehabilitation towards the desired completion criteria. The completion criteria are objective target levels or values that can be measured to quantitatively demonstrate the progress and ultimate success of a biophysical process. These indicators and criteria have been developed for each phase of the rehabilitation so that the rehabilitation success can be quantitatively tracked throughout the life of the mine. There is an element of risk attached to the development of completion or performance criteria, in that it is impossible to predict all of the variables that might influence the recovery or otherwise of those lands which are rehabilitated post mining. Many variables operate at catchment or regional scales, such as river flows and pest outbreaks. Other factors that operate at continental or even global scales, such as climatic influences (including droughts or floods brought about by La Niña and El Niño events), could significantly influence the long-term sustainability of the vegetated lands encompassed by the site. To this end, the performance indicators and completion indicators have been designed to provide an appropriate benchmark or guide against which to assess the management of project lands and the resulting improvements. A Trigger Action Response Plan (TARP) has also been developed to manage these potential risk factors, Section 9.2. The Rehabilitation Tables are a summary of the information from previous sections into a simple and concise form. The tables have been developed for each phase of rehabilitation and include the following information for each domain:

Rehabilitation phase;

Domain name;

Rehabilitation objective(s);

Performance indicator;

Completion criteria;

Monitoring Methodology

Monitoring Frequency

Justification or source for criteria,

Completion status;

Link to TARP

Progress at start of the MOP

The following section of this MOP defines how Bengalla is going to meet the range of criteria and

provides performance indicators against which these criteria are to be assessed. The performance

indicators and completion criteria are provided as a guide to aid in the direction of rehabilitation and

enhancement measures and have not been developed / designed to form a framework for the

purpose of the assessment of compliance.



Table 16: Decommissioning Phase

Phase 1 – Decommissioning

Objective Performance Indicator Completion

Criteria Monitoring

Methodology Monitoring Frequency

Justification/Source Complete (Yes/No)

Link to TARP

Progress at start of MOP

All Domains


Disconnection of services:

(Including power, communications and water)

Services Disconnected

Decommissioning Report,

Service Provider communication.

At time of decommissioning

Prior to rehabilitation

ML1397, Condition

9 [23],

ML1450, Condition

9,

ML1469, Condition

22

SSD-5170,

Condition 12

SSD-5170,

Condition 44

NEPM

Guidelines for the NSW Site Auditor Scheme

Bengalla EIS 2013

No 1 Not Started

Removal of Infrastructure

(Including roads, rail, conveyors, buildings, hardstands and stockpiles)

Infrastructure removed

Decommissioning Report,

Service Provider communication.



No 1 Not Started

Mobile Equipment Demobilised

(Including trucks, excavators, dragline, dozers, light vehicles, water and fuel trucks, graders.)

Mobile Equipment removed from site

Transportation and Demobilisation Documentation



No 1 Not Started

Hazardous substances identified and removed utilising a hazardous material assessment

(Including, ACMs, Lead paints, SMFs and PCBs)

All hazardous materials removed

Contamination report

Soil and Water Testing

Certificates for removal.



No 1 Not Started

Contaminated land identified and remediated.

(Including hydrocarbons)

Contaminated land remediated in accordance with relevant guidelines

Contamination report

Soil and water testing

Rehabilitation inspection



No 1 Not Started

Problematic materials encapsulated:

(Including Potentially Acid Forming (PAF) waste, carbonaceous material, spontaneous combustion material and reject material)

Encapsulation under at least 5m of inert material in OEA

Mine planning compliance

Rehabilitation inspection

During mining



No 1 Not Started



Table 17 Landform Establishment



Criteria Monitoring



Link to TARP


All Domains

Safe, stable and

non-polluting,

Surface Water self-sustaining and managed to minimise erosion and sedimentation

Designed drainage contours and structures installed.

Visual inspections

Survey design compliance

At time of installation

Annual rehabilitation monitoring

Bengalla EIS 2013

SSD-5170 Condition 44

“Blue Book”

Yes 2,4 Complete


Maximum size of Surface rocks

Rocks <200mm in diameter and at least partially embedded in slope

Visual Inspection Prior to growth medium development

Surface suitability for growth medium development Yes 3 Complete

Domain I Final Void


Established landform complies to approved final landform.

Void angles where practicable:

Lowwall 10°-21°

Highwall 23°-25°

Endwall approx. 33°


Prior to growth medium development


Bengalla EIS 2013

Bengalla RTS 2014


No 2 Not Started

Slopes are stable to maintain pasture cover

Geotechnical report

No visible signs of instability (slumping/ cracks) that will affect grazing practices

Visual inspections

Survey monitoring



Bengalla EIS 2013

No 4 Not Started

Fencing prevents pedestrian and livestock access

Fence present along entire length of the final highwall

Visual inspection of fence installed

After landform establishment


Bengalla EIS 2013

SSD-5170 Condition 44 No 7 Not Started





Criteria Monitoring



Link to TARP


Water quality

from

rehabilitation

areas are non-

polluting.

Landform designed to minimise surface water catchment into the final void

Landform implemented




Bengalla EIS 2013

No 2,4 Not Started


Development of a single void

1 void present Visual inspections




Bengalla EIS 2013

No 2 Not Started

Domain K Rehabilitation – Class III Pasture


Established Landform complies to approved Final Landform.

Landform Criteria:

Slope <5°

Surface +-2m



Agricultural Land Classification Agfact AC.25 Yes 2 Complete

Domain D Rehabilitation – Class IV & V Pasture



Landform Slope Criteria:

Class IV <14°

Class V <18°

Surface +-2m



Agricultural Land Classification Agfact AC.25

No 2 Not Started

Domain E Rehabilitation – Woodland




Class IV <14°

Class V <18°

Surface +-2m





No 2 Not Started





Criteria Monitoring



Link to TARP


Domain L Rehabilitation – Dry Creek




Class IV <14°

Class V <18°

Surface +-2m




No 2 Not Started


Reinstated Channel meets Design Criteria in EIS & Consent

Channel Length

Base Width

Lowflow channel slope

Lowflow channel depth

Highflow channel slope

Highflow channel depth

Mannings n

Channel Slope

Rock scour protection

No Net loss of Creek Length

Incorporate erosion control measures

Design Criteria: .

4500m

8m

1V:4H

0.77m

1V:10H

Variable

0.04

Varies

v > 2m/s for 1 in 50 ARI event


Subsidence data collected from dump monitoring

Initially and then annually until subsidence plateaus

Bengalla EIS 2013

No 2 Not Started



Table 18 Growing Media Development



Criteria Monitoring



Link to TARP


All Domains

Soil/growth medium chemical and physical properties are suitable for establishment of the post mining land use

pH 5.5 < pH < 8.2

Soil testing

Prior to topsoil spreading

Annual

rehabilitation

monitoring

Bengalla EIS 2013

Burns 2005

Hazelton 2007

No 5 Not Started

Electrical Conductivity <2.0 ds/m No 5 Not Started

Cation Exchange Capacity 4.0 to 30 me/100g No 5 Not Started

Exchangeable Sodium 0-10% No 5 Not Started

Topsoil/growth media

thickness

≥100mm average

over area Visual inspections

Topsoil inventory No 6 Not Started

Surface Preparation to

minimise erosion and

maximise water infiltration

Surface ripped

along contour Visual inspections

Prior to seeding


Bengalla EIS 2013 appendix V No 23 Not Started

Acceptable use of ameliorants

Records of application determined from test results

Soil testing

Application records

Per use Bengalla EIS 2013

No 5 Not Started



Topsoil thickness 400mm Black Vertosols.

Rehabilitation report

Topsoil inventory


GSSE Report September 2012 – Class III Land Rehabilitation.

Bengalla Pro-0618 Topsoil stripping procedure for Southern out of pit emplacement area.

Yes 6 Completed

Subsoil thickness 500mm Black Vertosols


Yes 6 Completed






Criteria Monitoring



Link to TARP


No Additional Completion Criteria


No Additional Completion Criteria



Dry Creek Clay Layer Extent 2m thick select clay fill layer for the length of the alignment

Construction inspection report

During construction

Bengalla EIS 2013 appendix V



No 5 Not Started

Dry Creek Clay stabilisation Top 300mm of clay layer with 2% gypsum

Construction inspection report

During construction No 6 Not Started



Table 19: Ecosystem and Land Use Establishment

Phase 4 – Ecosystem and Land Use Establishment

Objective Performance

Indicator Completion Criteria




Link to TARP


All Domains


Erosion No visible evidence of accelerated soil erosion (unstabilised surface)

Visual inspections

Vegetation cover


Bengalla EIS 2013 No 23 Not Started

No uncontrolled Access

Demarcation present and access restricted Visual inspections




Visual screening of drainage structures

Evidence of tree development in drainage structure areas

Visual inspections Annual rehabilitation Monitoring

Bengalla EIS 2013

No 9 Not Started


Electrical Conductivity <2.0 ds/m

Soil testing Annual

rehabilitation monitoring

Bengalla EIS 2013

Burns 2005

Hazelton 2007

No 5 Not Started

pH 6.0 <pH <8.0 No 5 Not Started

Exchangeable Sodium Percentage

0.10% No 5 Not Started

Cation Exchange Capacity

4.0 to 30 me/100g No 5 Not Started

Surface Litter Layers Presence of surface litter developing Visual inspection

Bengalla EIS 2013 No 5,9 Not Started

Soil loss Soil loss does not affect vegetation growth.

No 6 Not Started

Established ecosystem is suitable for agreed post mining land use

Tree Plot Health >75% trees established are disease free Visual inspections


Burns, M 2015 No 8,9 Not Started

Weed Management ≤ 20%(pre 2015) and ≤ 15%(post 2015) weed coverage per Ha and a measurable decline in weed density and diversity

Visual inspections Annual


Frequency

increased if

Bengalla EIS 2013

Bengalla Biodiversity Management Plan

SSD-5170

No 11 Not Started









Link to TARP


required by weed

management

Condition 29

Bushfire management Mine is equipped to respond to fires onsite & provide assistance to Rural Fire Service and emergency services

Included in Site

emergency

management

planning

Land scape

management Plan

Reviewed Annually


No 19 Not Started

Habitat potential - presence of surface rocks and fallen trees used in treed areas

Presence of reclaimed tree hollows, large logs and/or boulders on rehabilitated areas



Bengalla EIS 2013

No 14 Not Started

Habitat augmentation Signs of mammal and avian activity. No 14 Not Started

Pest Management Measurable decline in feral fauna abundance and diversity and no adverse impact on ecosystem development



Frequency

increased if

required by pest

management

Bengalla EIS 2013



No 12,13 Not Started


Surface water quality ≤ 1000µS/cm after 5 years

Water testing Annual


Burns, M 2015

No 18 Not Started


Minimum site treed coverage

Visual evidence of site wide tree coverage ≥ 10% Survey or Satellite

Image correlation


Bengalla EIS 2013


No 9,25 Not Started

Biodiversity Connectivity

Trees developing to establish biodiversity connectivity

Survey or Satellite

Image correlation


Bengalla RTS No 9,25 Not Started









Link to TARP


Native Vegetation Corridors

Visual evidence of corridor development to the North and West



Bengalla EIS 2013

Synoptic Plan: Integrated Landscapes for Coal Mine Rehabilitation in the Hunter Valley of New South Wales

No 9,25 Not Started

Weed Presence (Galenia)

(≤ 5% Galenia weed coverage per Ha) Visual inspections


Bengalla EIS 2013

Burns, M 2015 No 11 Not Started

Box Gum Woodland and Derived Native Grasslands species present

Visual evidence of species being established Visual inspections


Bengalla EIS 2013

No 9,25 Not Started

Treed areas present:

on either side of the Dry Creek frontage,

along paddock fence lines and

in paddocks.

Visual evidence of treed areas. Visual inspections


Bengalla EIS 2013

No 9,25 Not Started

Domain I Final Void

Public Safety Fence present Visual inspection Annual rehabilitation monitoring

Bengalla EIS 2013


No 7 Not Started


Ground Coverage ≥ 70% vegetative cover of a minimum 95% of area after 1 year of treatment

Visual inspections Annual Rehabilitation Monitoring

Burns, M 2015

No 9 Not Started


Water Quality of Void Water

EC < 20,000µS/cm

(increasing at 5µS/cm for the first 1000 years)

Water Testing Annual Rehabilitation Monitoring

Bengalla EIS 2013

No 22 Not Started









Link to TARP



Higher Density Planting around the final void for screening and ensure as natural a landscape as possible

Presence of higher density plantings around void crest


Bengalla EIS 2013


SSD-5170 Appendix 9

Bengalla RTS – Figure 11

No 9,25 Not Started

Level or Water in Void < spillway point Visual inspections

Survey Water Level

Annual Rehabilitation Monitoring


Suitable Pasture species Dominant

Dominant pasture species are not classified as weeds


Bengalla EIS 2013 No 9,25 Not Started


Established

ecosystem is

suitable for

agreed post

mining land use

Suitability for Grazing Grazing trials started to determine productivity targets

Grazing trials to be determined and reported in AEMR

As per grazing trials requirements

Bengalla EIS 2013

No 24 Not Started

Species Diversity Presence of at least 3 grasses and legumes appropriate to the district and recognised as suitable for beef cattle grazing

Visual inspections


Burns, M 2015

No 9 Not Started



Weed Management Weed species to be controlled such that pasture cover is not significantly impaired.

Burns, M 2015

No 11 Not Started




Bengalla EIS 2013

No 9,25 Not Started









Link to TARP



Established

ecosystem is

suitable for

agreed post

mining land use

Grazing Suitability Grazing trials started to determine productivity targets

Grazing trials to be determined and reported in AEMR

As per grazing trials requirements

Bengalla EIS 2013

No 24 Not Started

Species Diversity Presence of at least 3 grasses and legumes appropriate to the district and recognised as suitable for beef cattle grazing

Visual inspections


Burns, M 2015

No 9 Not Started



Weed Management Weed species to be controlled such that pasture cover is not significantly impaired.

Burns, M 2015

No 11 Not Started




Bengalla EIS 2013

No 9,25 Not Started


Established

ecosystem is

suitable for

agreed post

mining land use

Species Diversity Presence of at least 2 over storey and 2 under storey species in each 10mx20m plot at all ages

Visual inspections


Burns, M 2015

No 9 Not Started

Stem Density Minimum stem densities for seeded areas:

~ 1000/ha – year 1

~ 500/ha – year 5

Burns, M 2015

No 9,25 Not Started

Specific Rehabilitation conditions are

High density woody vegetation on eastern face of OEA

Visual evidence of high density vegetation being established

Bengalla EIS 2013


No 9,25 Not Started









Link to TARP


met Species from the Box-Gum Woodland present on the OEA facing Muswellbrook

Visual evidence of species present

Bengalla EIS 2013

No 9,25 Not Started



Higher Density planting along the riparian zone of the Dry Creek reinstatement

Visual evidence of higher density vegetation developing


Bengalla EIS 2013


No 9,25 Not Started

Aim to reproduce Dry Creek to a quality similar or greater to that which currently exists by using collected pre-mining baseline ecological information

Trending towards baseline ecological data

Adapted from ACARP Project C20017


Bengalla EIS 2013


ACARP Project C20017

No 25 Not Started

Revegetate with suitable native species

Native species present and established


Bengalla EIS 2013


No 9,25 Not Started

Presence of River Red Gums

(grown from seed sourced from the Hunter Catchment)

Visual evidence of River Red Gums present & Documentation showing grown from local seed.

Visual inspections

Seed province certificates


Bengalla RTS 2014

No 9,25 Not Started

Select clay fill area topsoiled, seeded and hydro mulched

Visual evidence of topsoiling, seeding and hydro mulching

Visual inspections

Survey

At time of rehabilitation

Bengalla RTS 2014

No 5,6 Not Started

Vegetation corridor created along Dry Creek’s riparian zone to assist fauna movements to broader areas north

Visual evidence of corridor establishment through tree growth


Bengalla RTS 2014

No 9,14,25 Not Started









Link to TARP


Species from Hunter Floodplain Red Gum Woodland community

Species present in revegetation

Visual inspections


Bengalla EIS 2013

No 9,25 Not Started



Table 20: Ecosystem and Land-use Sustainability

Phase 5 – Ecosystem and Land Use Sustainability






Link to TARP


All Domains


Stable and free draining landform

No visible evidence of accelerated soil erosion

Signs of vegetation regeneration


Bengalla EIS 2013


No 2,4 Not Started

No uncontrolled Access

Demarcation present and access restricted Visual inspections


SSD-5170 Condition 44 No 7 Not Started


Visual screening of drainage structures

Drainage structures successfully screened


Bengalla EIS 2013


No 9,25 Not Started

Landform Integration Design compliance to approved landform Visual inspections

Survey design

compliance


Bengalla EIS 2013


2,4,25 Not Started


Electrical Conductivity <2.0dS/m

Soil Testing Annual

Rehabilitation Monitoring


pH 6.0 <pH <8.0 Bengalla EIS 2013 No 5 Not Started

ESP No more than 20% higher than analogue soil plot


Cation Exchange Capacity

No less than 20% that of analogue soil plot


Soil N,P,K,S levels No less than 20% of Analogue plot levels after 10 years


Total organic carbon %

No less than 20% of Analogue plot levels after 10 years


Surface Litter Layers Increase trend in litter development and no hazardous material.

Visual inspection Bengalla EIS 2013

No 6,9 Not Started









Link to TARP



Tree Plot Development

Recruitment rates are equal or exceed mortality rates Visual inspections



Tree health >80% trees established are disease free Visual inspections



Weed Management No more active weed control than analogue sites show. Visual inspections



Habitat augmentation Presence of mammal and avian activity. Visual inspections



Pest Management Evidence of feral fauna in line with analogue sites and no adverse impact on ecosystem




Bengalla EIS 2013



Ecosystem Resilience Signs of second generation seedlings occurring - regeneration


Bengalla EIS 2013 No 8,9,17 Not Started


Surface water quality Upstream water quality ~ downstream water quality Water testing


Bengalla EIS 2013


No 18 Not Started


Minimum site treed coverage

Visual evidence of site wide tree coverage ≥ 10% Survey or Satellite

Image correlation


Bengalla EIS 2013


No 9,25 Not Started

Restored land capability

Land management in line with land capability Land Capability

Analysis

Pre relinquishment

Bengalla EIS 2013



Biodiversity Connectivity

Ensure there is no more than 3km spacing between a minimum patch size of 10ha and interstitial tree plantings at 60-80m spacing (3-4 trees

Survey or Satellite

Image correlation


Bengalla RTS










Link to TARP


per Ha)

Native Vegetation Corridors

(Including Mt Pleasant to the North and existing vegetation to the west)

Visual evidence of corridors developed Visual inspection

Survey or Satellite

Image correlation


Bengalla EIS 2013

Synoptic Plan: Integrated Landscapes for Coal Mine Rehabilitation in the Hunter Valley of New South Wales


Weed Presence (Galenia)

≤ 5% Galenia weed coverage per Ha Visual inspections



Box Gum Woodland and Derived Native Grasslands species present

Visual Evidence of developed species (+5years old)



Bengalla EIS 2013

No 9,25 Not Started

Treed areas present:

On either side of the Dry Creek frontage,

Along paddock fence lines and

In paddocks.

Visual evidence of treed areas. Visual inspections


Bengalla EIS 2013

No 9,25 Not Started

Domain I Final Void


All Hazards associated with the final highwall and Lowwall are controlled

Geotechnical Assessment conducted to validate stability and any identified controls put in place.

Visual inspection

Geotechnical assessment


Bengalla EIS 2013

No 3,4,7,28 Not Started

Public Safety Fence present Visual inspection Annual Rehabilitation Monitoring

Bengalla EIS 2013


No 7 Not Started

Final Lowwall is shaped, stable and maintains pasture cover

Pasture cover maintained on 95% area

Visual inspection Annual Rehabilitation Monitoring

Bengalla EIS 2013


Water quality from

Void water quality EC < 20,000µS/cm

(increasing at 5µS/cm for the Water Testing Annual

Rehabilitation Bengalla EIS 2013 No 22 Not Started









Link to TARP


rehabilitation areas are non-polluting.

first 1000 years) Monitoring



Grazing Productivity Based on trials (to be determined) and revegetation monitoring to Land Capability.

To be determined As per trial requirements

Bengalla EIS 2013

No 24 Not Started



Grazing Productivity Based on trials (to be determined) and revegetation monitoring to Land Capability.

To be determined As per trial requirements

Bengalla EIS 2013

No 24 Not Started



Natural Regeneration Evidence of natural regeneration at Year 10 for at least 1 species


Burns, M 2015 No 5,8,9,17 Not Started

Stem Density Minimum stem densities for seeded areas:

~500/ha – year 5

~400/ha – year 10


Burns, M 2015



High density woody vegetation on eastern face of OEA

Visual evidence of high density vegetation


Bengalla EIS 2013


No 9,25 Not Started

Species from the Box-Gum Woodland present on the OEA facing Muswellbrook

Visual evidence of species present


Bengalla EIS 2013

No 9,25 Not Started










Link to TARP



Natural Regeneration Evidence of natural regeneration at Year 10 for at least 1 species


Burns, M 2015 No 5,8,9,17 Not Started

Aim to reproduce Dry Creek to a quality similar or greater to that which currently exists by using collected pre-mining baseline ecological information

Meets baseline ecological data

Adapted from ACARP Project C20017


Bengalla EIS 2013


ACARP Project C20017


Domain M Rehabilitation – Tree Restoration


Remediation of the approximate 1km section of Dry Creek that will remain intact south to the Project Boundary so as not to impede on any agricultural land associated with the Hunter River Flood Plain

Remediation complete Visual inspection Annual Rehabilitation Monitoring

Bengalla RTS 2014

No 25 Not Started

Establishment of a tree corridor from the Hunter River back to the areas west of the final void within the need to significantly impact on agricultural land associated with the Hunter River Flood Plain, should mining cease after Year 24.

Tree Corridor present and shows signs of use


Bengalla RTS 2014

No 25 Not Started

Mine-owned riparian areas if Dry Creek nearby the Hunter River and retained areas (adjacent to the CHPP) within the Project Boundary that were not affected by the Disturbance Boundary will also be rehabilitated (including the planting of the regionally endangered

Presence of River Red Gum in Area


Bengalla RTS 2014

No 25 Not Started









Link to TARP


population River Red Gum)

Table 21: Land Relinquishment

Phase 6 – Land Relinquishment






Link to TARP


All Domains

Land Relinquishment

Compliance to criteria in Phases 1-5

Demonstrated compliance to Criteria Relinquishment

report

Prior to relinquishment

EGS03 No 25 Not Started



7 Rehabilitation Implementation

7.1 Status at MOP Commencement

Below describes the Domain status and the activities that have occurred up to the commencement of the MOP, and can be seen on PLAN 2. For the domains that are currently active and subject to

ongoing operations, they will not be described.

The rehabilitation status for each domain has been defined at the MOP commencement in Table 22.

The Areas of each Domain at the commencement and completion of the MOP can be found in section

7.3, Table 27

Table 22: Rehabilitation Status of Bengalla defined Domains

Code Primary Domain

(Operational)

Status at

Start of MOP Rehabilitation Activities to date

1 Active Void Active N/A

2 Water Management Active N/A

3 Infrastructure Active N/A

4 Overburden Emplacement

Area Active

Complete sections of the rehabilitation as

soon as possible

5 Topsoil Stockpiles Active Topsoil stockpiles have been created and

reclaimed as part of the rehabilitation.

6 Temporary Stabilisation Active

Temporary rehabilitation has occurred on

the northern face of the OEA where it is

dumped temporarily.

Code Secondary Domain

(Post Mining Land Use)

A Final Void Inactive This will not become active until mining is

complete

B Rehabilitation Area – Class III

Pasture Active

This domain is currently in the ecosystem

and land use establishment phase

C Rehabilitation Area – Pasture Active

This domain is present across site and

continues to be in several phases of

rehabilitation

D Rehabilitation Area –

Woodland Active

This domain is present across site and

continues to be in several phases of

rehabilitation

E Rehabilitation Area – Dry

Creek Reinstatement Inactive

This domain will not become active for

approximately 15 years

F Tree Restoration Areas Inactive This domain is currently inactive



7.2 Proposed Rehabilitation Activities during the MOP Term

The proposed rehabilitation activities during the MOP term will concentrate on rehabilitating the OEA as soon as practicable, and continue to progress existing rehabilitation through the phases. These activities can be seen in the PLAN 3 Series and include:

Ground disturbance

Topsoil management

Landform establishment

Growth medium development

Ecosystem establishment

Rehabilitation monitoring

Rehabilitation care and maintenance

7.2.1 Ground Disturbance

Bengalla’s Rehabilitation Management Plan and Biodiversity Management Plan defines how cleared

vegetation is managed. Where appropriate, hollow bearing logs may be collected and used for habitat

in rehabilitation and non-disturbed areas, as directed by the Environmental Specialist or Advisor.

Vegetation or rocks, not required for rehabilitation purposes will be pushed on to the pre-strip area for

removal with the overburden. All grass will be left to be recovered with the topsoil. Where possible

native seed will be collected as per the Biodiversity Management Plan. Weed control ahead of mining

will assist in topsoil management once cleared.

7.2.2 Topsoil Management

A soil and land capability Impact assessment was completed as part of the 2013 Bengalla EIS. This

assessment shows that soil types and suitability vary greatly across site and recommended topsoil

stripping depths varies greatly from 0 – 0.6m. All soils have a moderate erosion risk and therefore

require careful management, and all subsoils are undesirable for topsoil use due to severe physical

and/or chemical limitations.

Soil management is fundamental to successful rehabilitation at Bengalla. Since grazing has

historically been conducted prior to mining, there is generally a heavier dormant weed seed content

which is activated during stripping. If specific weed management practices are not undertaken the

presence of weeds will inhibit the establishment of native vegetation and also compete with pastures.

Controlling weeds at the stockpiling stage is therefore more cost effective than controlling them once

they are established in rehabilitated areas.

Stripping topsoil should be under slightly moist conditions to maintain soil structure as well as

minimise dust. If it is too wet compaction can occur and if to dry then excessive dust can be

produced. Vehicle traffic over both the stripping area and stockpiling area should also be kept to a

minimum. Where possible, topsoil will be placed directly onto shaped rehabilitation areas as up to

10% of topsoil is lost each time it is handled in addition to stimulation of weeds.



When stockpiling topsoil weed control is one of the most important issues. This is generally by cultivating to a depth of 30cm and sowing a pasture crop to out compete weeds from forming and generating more weed seed bank. The seed mix with either be Millet (Aug-January) or Oats (February-July) for short term stockpiles up to 6 months, or the pasture mix in Table 23 for longer term stockpiles if the topsoil will be used for a pasture domain so it does not compete with the native domain. Correct shaping to minimise the weed infested surface layer is also crucial so that it can be scraped off later if required.

7.2.3 Landform Establishment

Emplacement areas are progressively rehabilitated as areas are completed to final landform shape. The majority of the north, eastern and southern faces have been rehabilitated, with active mining on the western face filling in behind mining void.

Bengalla Mine has a range of material wastes that are combed in the Overburden Emplacement Area. ARD and reject materials are placed well below the final landform and at least a 5m layer of inert material will cover them to minimise adverse effects of rehabilitation potential. Material that is identified to be placed near the final surface is also reviewed for physical properties to reduce the occurrence of large rocks at the surface, as well as visual aesthetic – the use of weathered prestrip material is preferred where possible.

The Landform is initially dumped to design in lifts of approximately 7m in height to allow for encapsulation of rejects and allows for cut and fill to establish the final surface. Survey control by survey pegs and/or Dozer GPS systems assists this process. Once the Designed Dump is complete, dozers can easily shape the final landform, again with survey control and/or Dozer GPS.

The current Final Landform has a maximum overall slope of 10 degrees up from the toe of the dump,

flattening off towards the top to create an undulating surface to integrate into the surrounding

landscape. Localised slopes are designed up to 14-18 degrees around water management areas to

allow for their inclusion to control erosion and sediment. Drainage lines from the final landforms will

be compatible with the surrounding drainage network. This will be achieved using a combination of

controls such as graded contour banks, designed channels and drop structures, and where necessary

watercourse reinforcement.

7.2.4 Growth Medium Development

At Bengalla, overburden material varies in physical and geochemical properties, in accordance with

the geology of the area and the extent of exposure to weathering. Chemical analyses of Bengalla

spoil materials indicate that, in general, the overburden is slightly sodic and alkaline, but within

acceptable ranges for use as a plant growth medium.

Soil analysis is undertaken on re-contoured areas to determine suitable ameliorants for revegetation. Soil amelioration and treatment requirements are based on agronomic test and may include the use of gypsum or bio solids to improve topsoil condition. The Gypsum is initially spread and worked into recovered topsoil on the contour to mix and bind the topsoil into the reshaped surface. Topsoil will be spread across the dozed areas and slopes to the appropriate coverage (100-200mm) and then rock raked to remove any large exposed rocks larger than 200mm in size.

Graded contour banks will also be constructed in order to capture and direct surface flows thereby minimising any potential erosion areas. These should be extended past the area being rehabilitated to reduce erosion around the fringes of newly sown areas. Areas will then be scarified along the contour to assist in seed germination and water infiltration.



7.2.5 Ecosystem Establishment

Revegetation will be undertaken progressively after the completion of surface preparation. After topsoil is spread and raked, seeding commences as soon as practical. During the MOP period both Pasture and Woodland domains will be revegetated.

7.2.5.1 Pasture

At the time of sowing all pasture revegetation areas are treated with fertilizer at a rate based on soil analysis results. This will help with rapid establishment of pasture to out compete weeds. If long term topsoil stockpiles are used and the weed content is low the top layer should be utilised as it should have accumulated increased pasture seed base over time. This top layer can also be used in drainage structures to accelerate stabilisation. Pasture domains predominantly consist of modified pasture species. Table 24 outlines the current species mix

Table 23 Modified Pasture Rehabilitation Species

Species Rate

Couch 5 kg/ha

Kikuyu 2.5 kg/ha

Phalaris 2.5 kg/ha

Maximus Ryegrass 12 kg/ha

Rebound Millet (September to January) or Coolabah Oats (March to July) 13 kg/ha

Green Panic 2 kg/ha

Sub clover 5 kg/ha

Sephi Barrel medic 5 kg/ha

Lucerne 5 kg/ha

*Mix above with 125 kg/ha Starter 15 fertiliser (or similar)

7.2.5.2 Woodland

Woodland will be created both in the woodland domain as high density native vegetation as well as scattered tree plots for the creation of wind breaks and wood lots for stock shelter in the pasture domain, as well as vegetation corridors for habitat linkages and biodiversity connectivity to the surrounding landscape. The preferred method of revegetation is direct seeding as it is more cost effective, although there will be use of tube stock planting as a supporting method to assist in achieving completion criteria.

Drought and soil water capacity determine what density of trees and shrubs will ultimately survive onsite, it is planned that stem densities will thin out over time as shorter lived species such as Acacia die out. High density trees is also one of the effective weed management techniques to effectively control weeds due to blocking out of light to the ground.

Felled timber that has been stockpiled may be spread across topsoiled areas in either loose stockpiles of timber along the contour of the slope to assist erosion control, or in piles to create



concentrated habitat mounts. Placement of the timber is planned around topsoil application to minimise compaction and interaction with surface preparation/ripping prior to seeding.

Currently there are two communities planned to be used for Woodland areas that are commonly

found in the Upper Hunter Valley. They contain species from the local Box Gum communities,

dominant eucalyptus species as well as a range of other species to increase diversity and chances of

success. Table 24 and Table 25 outlines the two communities currently planned. This listing may be

subject to change due to seed availability, success rate under variable climatic conditions, or

monitoring data.

Due to the potentially high weed content, topsoil that is used should be from the lower layers of the

topsoil stockpile when possible to minimise the potential weed seed bank and the use of fertiliser will

be minimised with the seed mix. An inert bulking agent (37kg/Ha kitty litter) will be thoroughly mixed

to assist in the even spreading of seed.

A light cover crop will be incorporated into the native seed mix for the target communities, consisting

of a light rate of 5kg/ha of Millet or Oats (depending on season), and 3kg/ha Ryegrass to assist in

stabilisation while native plants are establishing. The purpose of inclusion is to ensure early soil

stability and erosion control prior to the establishment of native species. Cover crop species are

designed to be functional but not competitive with the native vegetation.

Direct seeding will be later supplemented by tube stock propagated and planted using locally-collected seed. The direct seeding to tube stock planting ratio will be determined through a trial. A combination of both planted tube stock and direct seeding will be used to achieve suitable species composition in most communities.

Table 24 Native Vegetation Rehabilitation Species 1

Central Hunter Grey Box – Ironbark Woodland

Species Rate Type

Angophora floribunda (rough-barked apple) 0.2 kg/ha Tree

Brachychiton populneus (Kurrajong) 0.1 kg/ha Tree

Corymbia Malcate (Spotted gum) 0.2 kg/ha Tree

Eucalyptus blakelyi (Blakely’s red gum) 0.2 kg/ha Tree

Eucalyptus crebra (Narrow-leaved ironbark) 0.8 kg/ha Tree

Eucalyptus moluccana (Grey box) 0.8 kg/ha Tree

Eucalyptus tereticornis (Forest red gum) 0.2 kg/ha Tree

Acacia salicina (Native willow) 0.1 kg/ha Low tree

Notelaea microcarpa (Native olive) 0.1 kg/ha Low tree

Acacia implexa (Hickory wattle) 0.2 kg/ha Low tree

Allocasuarina luehmannii (Bulloak) 0.1 kg/ha Low tree

Acacia amblygona (Fan wattle) 0.1 kg/ha Shrub

Acacia decora (Western silver wattle) 0.3 kg/ha Shrub

Acacia falcate (Sickle wattle) 0.4 kg/ha Shrub



Acacia paradoxa (kangaroo thorn) 0.1 kg/ha Shrub

Bursaria spinosa (Blackthorn) 0.3 kg/ha Shrub

Dodonaea viscosa (Sticky hop-bush) 0.2 kg/ha Shrub

Acacia parvipinnula (Silver-stemmed wattle) 0.1 kg/ha Shrub

Ozothamnus diosmifolius (White dogwood) 0.1 kg/ha Shrub

Solanum cinereum (Narrawa burr) 0.1 kg/ha Shrub

Daviesia genistifolia (broom bitter pea) 0.1 kg/ha Shrub

Chloris truncate (Mindmill grass) 0.1 kg/ha Native grass

Bothriochloa macra (Red grass) 0.1 kg/ha Native grass

Microlaena stipoides (Weeping grass) 0.1 kg/ha Native grass

Austrostipa scabra (Spear grass) 0.1 kg/ha Native grass

Dichanthium sericeum (Blue Grass) 0.1 kg/ha Native grass

Panicum effusum (Hairy panic) 0.1 kg/ha Native grass

Paspalidium distans 0.1 kg/ha Native grass

Themeda triandra (Kangaroo grass) 0.1 kg/ha Native grass

Capillipedium spicigerum (Scented-top grass) 0.1 kg/ha Native grass

Cymbopogon refractus (Barbed wire grass) 0.1 kg/ha Native grass

Atriplex semibaccata (Berry saltbush) 0.1 kg/ha Understory

Hardenbergia violacea (False sarsaparilla) 0.1 kg/ha Understory

Einadia nutans (Climbing saltbush) 0.1 kg/ha Understory

Enchylaena tomentacea (Ruby saltbush) 0.1 kg/ha Understory

Calotis lappulacea (Yellow-burr daisy) 0.1 kg/ha Understory

Chrysocephalum apiculatum (Everlasting) 0.1 kg/ha Herb

Swainsona galegifolia (Smooth darling-pea) 0.1 kg/ha Groundcover

Total 6.5kg/ha



Table 25 Native Vegetation Rehabilitation Species 2

Central Hunter Ironbark– Spotted Gum – Grey Box Forest

Species Rate Type

Corymbia maculata (Spotted gum ) 0.8 kg/ha Tree

Angophora floribunda (rough-barked apple) 0.1 kg/ha Tree

Eucalyptus blakelyi (Blakely’s red gum) 0.3 kg/ha Tree

Eucalyptus crebra (Narrow leaf ironbark) 0.6 kg/ha Tree

Eucalyptus fibrosa (Broad leaf ironbark) 0.3 kg/ha Tree

Eucalyptus moluccana (Grey box) 0.6 kg/ha Tree

Eucalyptus tereticornis (Forest red gum) 0.2 kg/ha Tree

Brachychiton populneus (Kurrajong) 0.1 kg/ha Tree

Acacia implexa (Hickory wattle) 0.2 kg/ha Low tree

Allocasuarina luehmannii (Bull oak) 0.1 kg/ha Low tree

Acacia salicina (Native willow) 0.1 kg/ha Low tree

Notelaea microcarpa (Native olive) 0.1 kg/ha Low tree

Acacia decora Western silver wattle) 0.3 kg/ha Shrub

Acacia maculata (Sickle wattle) 0.5 kg/ha Shrub

Acacia parvipinnula (Silver-stemmed wattle) 0.3 kg/ha Shrub

Ozothamnus diosmifolius 0.1 kg/ha Shrub

Dodonaea viscosa (Sticky hop-bush) 0.1 kg/ha Shrub

Bursaria spinosa (Blackthorn) 0.2 kg/ha Shrub

Daviesia ulicifolia (Gorse bitter pea) 0.1 kg/ha Shrub

Solanum cinereum (Narrawa burr) 0.1 kg/ha Shrub

Pultenaea spinosa (Grey bush-pea) 0.1 kg/ha Shrub

Chloris truncate (Mindmill grass) 0.1 kg/ha Native grass

Bothriochloa macra (Red grass) 0.1 kg/ha Native grass

Microlaena stipoides (Weeping grass) 0.1 kg/ha Native grass

Austrostipa scabra (Spear grass) 0.1 kg/ha Native grass



Dichanthium sericeum (Blue Grass) 0.1 kg/ha Native grass

Panicum effusum (Hairy panic) 0.1 kg/ha Native grass

Paspalidium distans 0.1 kg/ha Native grass

Themeda triandra (Kangaroo grass) 0.1 kg/ha Native grass

Capillipedium spicigerum (Scented-top grass) 0.1 kg/ha Native grass

Cymbopogon refractus (Barbed wire grass) 0.1 kg/ha Native grass

Atriplex semibaccata (Berry saltbush) 0.1 kg/ha Understory

Hardenbergia violacea (False sarsaparilla) 0.1 kg/ha Understory

Einadia nutans (Climbing saltbush) 0.1 kg/ha Understory

Enchylaena tomentacea (Ruby saltbush) 0.1 kg/ha Understory

Calotis lappulacea (Yellow-burr daisy) 0.1 kg/ha Understory

Chrysocephalum apiculatum (Everlasting) 0.1 kg/ha Herb

Swainsona galegifolia (Smooth darling-pea) 0.1 kg/ha Groundcover

Total 7.0 kg/ha

All seeding aims to be undertaken immediately after ripping and before rain and surface crusting

occurs. Sowing onto a fresh tilth is important to germination success. Native seed should only be

sown in the warmer months (October to May) when surface soil temperature is sufficient to facilitate

germination.

If a top-dressed area becomes available out of season the area will be initially sown with a temporary cover crop (as described above). The site should be pre-ripped prior to seeding in the same manner as for the final crop. When mature, this cover crop will die back. It can then be ripped into the topsoil prior to sowing of the native seed mix in the warmer months. Incorporating the mature cover crop will enhance soil organics and other beneficial processes that flow from same.

7.2.5.3 Dry Creek Reinstatement

No Dry Creek Reinstatement areas are planned for the MOP Period

7.2.6 Rehabilitation Monitoring and Maintenance

Rehabilitation Monitoring begins once initial rehabilitation works are complete right through to land

relinquishment to ensure the successful progression of rehabilitation through the phases. Bengalla

undertakes annual rehabilitation audits and annual rehabilitation monitoring programmes. Any

maintenance requirements are scheduled for completion or incorporated into the site’s annual



environmental improvement programmes. Rehabilitation monitoring is discussed more in Section 8.

Rehabilitation maintenance is a function of either the rehabilitation methodology or is triggered

through outcomes of the monitoring program, where mitigation actions are developed and

implemented. Typical maintenance activities at Bengalla focus on erosion control, weed and pest

management, and revegetation progress. Section 9 details a more in-depth T.A.R.P.

Erosion control typically requires maintenance in new rehabilitation areas around the western edges where the current dump is intersected as well as drainage structures that have not had the chance of stabilisation with vegetation prior to heavy rain events.

When weeds are present on rehabilitated areas, they can limit native plant growth, particularly in the early stages of germination and are therefore best controlled at the topsoil stockpile stage. There are several sections of the current rehabilitation area where weeds have become established and the require remedial work. These areas are incorporated into targeted programs annually to reduce the impact of weeds and achieve rehabilitation objectives.

Revegetation maintenance will either be as result of realignment between existing and new secondary domains that have changed due to the new approval of SSD-5170, where incorrect species have established and need to be changed, or where cover crops have not been ripped up and re-seeded with native vegetation within the year. The main challenges associated with this is the development of high density trees in existing areas of pasture where undesirable pasture species may be present in the rehabilitation such as Rhodes grass.

7.2.7 Disturbance and Rehabilitation Progression during the term of the MOP

Table 26: Disturbance and Rehabilitation Progression during the term of the MOP

YEAR Total

Disturbance Area (Ha)

Total Rehabilitation Area (Ha) (Per MOP

Year)*

Cumulative Rehabilitation

Area* Comments/Explanation

Start of MOP 0 (2014)

782 - 186

1 (2015)

892 41** 228 20Ha – South dump face

(21Ha existing CHPP bund)

2 (2016)

1006 18 247 15Ha – South dump face

3Ha – North face

3 (2017)

1052 7 254 7Ha - South dump face

4 (2018)


5 (2019)


10Ha - North face

6 (2020)


10Ha - North face

End of MOP 7 (2021)


10Ha - North face

* Total Rehabilitation Area includes areas of land which are within the following phases: Landform Establishment and Growth Medium Development, Ecosystem and Land Use Establishment, and Ecosystem and Land Use Sustainability. Disturbance includes non-relinquished rehabilitated lands. ** 2015 include 21ha from the existing CHPP Visual Bund that has not been included previously.



Note that no flat areas on the 270RL are being rehabilitated due to the proposed modification to the final landform height as a result of the stake holder engagement process with Muswellbrook shire council to create a more undulating and natural landscape. These areas will instead be temporarily stabilised and are identified in Domain 10 on the Plan 3 series. Should the modification to the development consent to allow this landform change not be successful then these areas will be progressively transitioned into the rehabilitation phases.

7.3 Summary of Rehabilitation Areas during the MOP Term

The table below summarises the change in areas of each domain and associated phase of rehabilitation during the MOP period. It should be noted that at Bengalla, the following Domain relationships occur which explain the changing areas of each Domain:

The Active Mine Void heads west and generally increases in size slowly as time progresses

due to the increasing strip length towards the west as well as reduction in highwall angle to

increase production. The Mine Void generally consumes Infrastructure Areas ahead of mining,

and then is converted to Overburden Emplacement once the basal seam is mined;

Water Management areas will vary over time but generally increase proportionally to the

Overburden emplacement areas;

Infrastructure areas will generally remain the same as they are re-established ahead of mining

before they become part of the active mine, but will increase slowly as production increases or

pit geometry changes (i.e. Dry Creek infrastructure); and

Overburden Emplacement Areas will always increase as time progresses. The Active

Overburden Emplacement Areas may increase or decrease depending on dumping sequence

and ability to convert from an Active dump to a Rehabilitation Phase for a specific Rehabilitation

Domain. All Rehabilitation Areas should always increase with time unless dehabilitation is

require



Table 27 Rehabilitation Data Table

Pri

mary

Do

main

Seco

nd

ary

Do

ma

in

Co

de (

Pla

n

leg

en

d)

Rehabilitation Phase

Start of MOP 2014 (Ha)

Year 1 2015 (Ha)

Year 2 2016 (Ha)

Year 3 2017 (Ha)

Year 4 2018 (Ha)

Year 5 2019 (Ha)

Year 6 2020 (Ha)

Year 7 2021 (Ha)

Domain 6 – Active Void

6 - 6 Active 169 168 199 216 203 185 191 185

Domain 3 – Water Management

3 - 3 Active 30 60 60 73 72 72 72 71

Domain 1 – Infrastructure

1 - 1 Active 152 155 190 185 183 178 167 163

Domain 4 – Overburden Emplacement

4 - 4 Active 213 236 211 214 191 208 217 225

Domain 5 – Topsoil Stockpiles

5 - 5 Active 16 22 52 55 61 63 66 68

Domain 10 – Temporary Stabilisation

10

- 10 Active 21 23 48 55 76 85 89 95

Total –Primary Domains 601 663 759 798 785 792 802 806

Domain I – Final Void

-

Fin

al V

oid

(A

)

A

Decommissioning 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Landform Establishment 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Growth Medium Development 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Ecosystem Establishment 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Ecosystem Development 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Relinquished Lands 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0



Domain K – Rehabilitation Area – Class III Pasture

-

Reha

bili

tation A

rea –

Cla

ss III P

astu

re (

B)

B




Ecosystem Establishment 5.7 5.7 5.7 5.7 0 0 0 0



Total 5.7 5.7 5.7 5.7 5.7 5.7 5.7 5.7

Domain D – Rehabilitation Area – Class IV & V Pasture

-

Reha

bili

tation A

rea –

Cla

ss IV

& V

Pastu

re

(C)

C



Growth Medium Development 8.8 21.6 13.5 7.0 12.0 21.1 20.8 22.9

Ecosystem Establishment 31.2 40.0 61.6 75.1 82.1 94.1 115.2 135.9



Total 40.0 61.6 75.1 82.1 94.1 115.2 135.9 158.8

Domain E – Rehabilitation Area – Woodland

-

Reha

bili

tation A

rea –

Woo

dla

nd

(D

)

D



Growth Medium Development 13.8 20.0 5.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Ecosystem Establishment 127.1 140.9 161.0 166.4 166.4 166.4 166.4 166.4



Total 140.9 161.0 166.4 166.4 166.4 166.4 166.4 161.0

Domain L – Rehabilitation Area – Dry Creek Reinstatement

-

Reha

bili

tation

Are

a –

Dry

Cre

ek

Rein

sta

tem

ent

(E)

E









Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Domain M – Tree Restoration Areas -

Fin

al V

oid

(A

)

F







Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Total –Secondary Domains 187 228 247 254 267 287 308 331

Total – Primary and Secondary Domains 782 892 1006 1052 1052 1079 1110 1137

Notes:

Decommissioning and Landform establishment are shown as 0 since these phases are usually complete during the year and progressed to Growth

Medium Development by the end of the year.

No rehabilitation is expected to be at the relinquishment phase during this MOP Term.

All areas have been rounded up to the nearest Ha for table display purposes and therefore may show slight errors to the totals is adding the table

numbers together.

In 2015 the CHPP visual bund had been incorporated into the rehabilitation phases where it previously has not been counted – it has an area of

21.62Ha in the Domain D – Pasture.

Domain Polygons and areas have changed since last MOP due to new domains being created for alignment to the new development consent – this will

therefore not directly correspond to previous MOP or AEMR reporting.



7.4 Relinquishment phase achieved during MOP Period

No areas at Bengalla either before or over the proposed MOP period will meet the rehabilitation requirements for completed rehabilitation – the Relinquished Lands Phase.



8 Rehabilitation Monitoring and Research

The aim of Bengalla’s monitoring and research programs are to determine the success of rehabilitation, and continually improve the rehabilitation strategy. This is generally conducted through rehabilitation audits and annual rehabilitation monitoring programmes. Monitoring programs are designed to assess what is working and what is not, with the data gathered used to guide the creation and assess the progress of completion criteria.

8.1 Rehabilitation Monitoring

Bengalla has implemented a monitoring program that assesses the performance of rehabilitation

areas across the site. The monitoring program is based on performance indicators that utilise

methodologies and can provide quantitative data to assess changes occurring over time.

A consistent and quantitative methodology has been implemented and is undertaken on a periodic

basis, ensuring a satisfactory number of analogue/baseline sites are established to inform target

setting. Data from analogue sites is used to establish target values for key biophysical parameters

and indicators related to vegetation diversity/structure and habitat complexity. Permanent quadrats

have been established and are reassessed at a maximum of two year intervals, at least in the short

term, to ensure restorative strategies are progressing.

The monitoring methodology adopted is a standard and simple procedure that can be replicated over

any vegetation community or rehabilitation area and allows results to compare similar communities.

The monitoring program involved the application of the CSIRO developed Ecosystem Function

Analysis (EFA) tool (Tongway and Hindley, 2004), vegetation monitoring components, and a visual

monitoring.

Rehabilitation monitoring at Bengalla is undertaken through the implementation of the following:

An annual transect-based (detailed) rehabilitation monitoring programme (EFA); and

Annual rehabilitation audit consisting of a reconnaissance level / walk through rapid assessment of all rehabilitated lands, and include observations of rehabilitation and some design recommendations for remediation of failed areas.

The transect-based rehabilitation monitoring programme was implemented in 2009, and has been

undertaken by AECOM since 2011. The monitoring programme involves several components,

comprising the CSIRO-developed Ecosystem Function Analysis (EFA) tool (Tongway & Hindley,

2004), vegetation dynamics, habitat complexity and disturbance assessments, pasture assessments,

soil sampling and analyses, and photographic monitoring.

A slight change in monitoring methodology for native ecosystems in the new Woodland Domain

derived from Nichols (2005-ACARP Project C13048) may be planned going forward being more

suitable than the EFA method mentioned above. Monitoring sites are generally planned at around 1

per 30 Ha for each major domain and age class. Sites are monitored 12 months after establishment

and then can be extended to every 2 years. Plot design is similar but slightly different.



Permanent monitoring transects and associated photo reference sites are established in areas of

post-mined rehabilitated lands and correspondingly in an adjacent undisturbed areas to provide

analogue/reference sites.

Overall, the data derived from the monitoring programme provides a scientifically robust platform

against which the effectiveness of post mining rehabilitation techniques can be assessed and, where

applicable, amended. This is done with the aim of achieving sustainable post mining vegetation

communities which are aligned to the proposed post mining land use for the Bengalla mining lease

area and close out of associated approval conditions.

In addition to fixed plot monitoring, simple walkthrough audits/inspections are planned annually

through revegetated areas to determine if any remedial action is required with the intention to identify

maintenance before situations deteriorate.

8.2 Research and Rehabilitation Trials and Use of Analogue Sites

8.2.1 Research – Biochar – Soil Carbon Project

The Bengalla soil carbon project commenced in late 2011. The Agricultural Productivity Research

Programme proposal was submitted in July of 2011 during the draft consent consultation period. The

submission made by Bengalla was accepted and subsequently the proposal was included into the

final Development Consent that was approved in October 2011.

The technical objective of the project is to develop a predictive tool to determine the potential of

building soil carbon. Biochar, derived from green waste, will be used to build soil carbon in an attempt

to improve soil characteristics, and in particular, increase soil productivity as part of a comprehensive

approach to the rehabilitation of mine sites in the Hunter Valley, New South Wales. The project will

specifically:

Investigate the soil and plant response to plant-derived Biochar;

Investigate the combined effects of Biochar with other common soil amendments;

Investigate management practices that may improve the efficiency of Biochar application;

Improve on pot trial methods for Biochar studies; and

Model the costs and benefits of applying Biochar to soils disturbed by mining.

The second year of the project saw a focus on Biochar research through a PhD project commenced in

2012 at the University of Newcastle and further development of a soil carbon trading model.

The PhD project continued during 2013. Results of the project progress have been presented at a

number of conferences, including the Tom Farrell Rehabilitation Conference in 2013.

An extensive literature review was undertaken on the use of Biochar for improving soil quality in

various applications. Shortcomings were identified in the studies, particularly the issue of

reinstatement of soil functionality, which is applicable to mine rehabilitation. Due to the lack of data on

the issue, it was not possible to determine in advance whether Biochar would be suitable for mine

rehabilitation.

The University of Newcastle have been elected to investigate the potential for Biochar to improve

mine rehabilitation outcomes in the Hunter Valley. A literature review was carried out into

rehabilitation of mines and the use of Biochar. The review assisted in planning the project and

identifying suitable methods and material to trial. This ensured the trial conditions were representative



of Bengalla Mine and that the project’s objective of investigating the potential for Biochar to improve

mine rehabilitation outcomes could be achieved.

Initial experimental pot trials of Biochar soil commenced during 2013. Preliminary pot trials identified a

significantly positive plant response to Biochar and a number of potential causative mechanisms

behind the improved plant growth. The impact of Biochar on plant growth was measured by plant

germination rate, yield and growth rate (height).

The project moved into a maintenance phase with landholders after securing participants, farm

planning, sampling and analysis and educational workshops. The maintenance phase has involved

farmers touring the region and attending meetings and events to develop a greater understanding of

holistic or conservation farming practices.

A group of 17 farmers attended a two day tour through the New England and North West Slopes and

Plains of NSW, visiting properties that demonstrate the benefits of these farming practices including

increased levels of soil carbon, improved landscape resilience, enhanced environmental services,

improved human and animal welfare and improved productivity.

8.2.2 Analogue Sites

Currently Bengalla has 2 established native vegetation analogue sites situated west of the operation

in pre-mined land. Site 1 is situated in regenerating forest within a cattle exclusion zone (established

2009), while site 2 is situated in regenerating forest within a grazed paddock (established 2012).

As part of rehabilitation changes in the BCMP, Bengalla plan on reviewing these existing analogue

sites and is seeking to establish new representative analogue sites to the west of the mining lease

where existing woodland exists. Other topographical factors that relate to rehabilitated land, such as

slope and available growth medium, soil properties and vegetation diversity will be considered when

selecting the sites.

The main indicators that the analogue sites will be used for is to compare the soil parameters on mine

land overtime. The EIS contains as part of the soil and land capability study a summary of soil

properties at the time of the study. This information has been used to establish initial completion

criteria although the analogue sites over time will be used to refine this criteria. Vegetation

parameters may not be as useful to compare the high density vegetation planning to be established

for the Woodland Domain due to the degraded nature of the remnant vegetation communities in the

Upper Hunter Valley.

Analogue sites for Pasture Domains are not planned apart from soil properties, with the parameters

for completion criteria being based off and refined from grazing trials and comparable productivity to

the associated land capability.

8.2.3 Grazing Trials on Rehabilitated Lands

In 2015 Bengalla proposes to commence a project to trial cattle agistment within established

rehabilitation on the eastern OEA. The objective of the project is to demonstrate the capability of

rehabilitated land to achieve the final land use objectives. Specifically the project will assist in

understanding the potential impacts of grazing rehabilitated land in relation to weed growth, pasture

species diversity, soil physical and chemical properties, soil and organic matter content, percentage



ground cover and erosion potential. Infrastructure to facilitate the trial has been installed in early 2015

with a cattle proof fence and water facilities.

Future trials for grazing will be developed once results from other local mine site grazing trials are

shared, with the intent to head towards a total farm trial in the future pre relinquishment.

8.2.4 Species Suitability Trials Species suitability in both Pasture and Woodland domains will continue to be assessed as part of monitoring programs. Trial plots of the 2 nominated vegetation communities are planned to be sown to compare regrowth rates, stem density, canopy development. Results from these trials will be used to develop and refine completion criteria as an ongoing process.

8.2.5 Weed Control Trials on Rehabilitated Lands Weed control on rehabilitated lands will be ongoing and varied based on the weed species and coverage area. Both herbicides and grazing are currently being trialled on different areas of the rehab to address current weed issues. The results of these trials will be used in continuous improvement of weed control on site.



9 Intervention and Adaptive Management

9.1 Threats to Rehabilitation

Progressive implementation of rehabilitation will occur as soon as practicable after mining is

complete. An analysis of threats that may impact on the ability for Bengalla to achieve rehabilitation

has been completed through a risk assessment process, and forms the basis of the Trigger Action

Response Plan (TARP). This can be seen in Table 28.

9.2 Trigger Action Response Plan

The TARP identifies the proposed contingency strategies in the event of unexpected variations or

impacts to rehabilitation outcomes, e.g. a failure to meet a nominated completion criterion (Table 29).

The TARP considers the contributing factors that may lead to the risk and the processes to be utilised

by Bengalla to recognise these risks and respond in a timely manner.

Bengalla’s rehabilitation monitoring program shall be the primary means to monitor the effectiveness

of the mitigation measures for each planned response action. Bengalla shall progressively check that

the response is suitable for managing a situation, before risks to rehabilitation become unacceptable,

unmanageable or irreversible. The DRE and other relevant stakeholders will be notified of

exceedances which may result in major impacts to rehabilitation.

Accurate identification of trigger levels provide for early responses to emerging risks to rehabilitation.

As conditions on a mine change, new major hazards may be identified and added to the TARP.

Bengalla will regularly review its risks and update the TARP as required.



Table 28 Analysis of Rehabilitation Threats

Phase Rehabilitation Threat Potential Adverse Outcome Consequence Likelihood Risk

Rating

1 Failure to decommission effectively Unable to progress rehabilitation 1 D L

2 Final Landform not compliant Unable to meet land capability requirements 2 C M

2 Unsuitable surface material Unable to support growth medium 2 C M

2 Unstable final void or landform Unable to meet land capability requirements and potential public safety issues

3 D M

2 Inability to reshape final landform Unable to progress rehabilitation 1 D L

3 Inadequate growth medium quality Unable to support rehabilitation requirements 2 C M

3 Insufficient growth medium quantity Unable to support rehabilitation requirements 2 C M

4 Uncontrolled access Damage to rehabilitation 2 C M

4 Inadequate seed for rehabilitation Poor establishment success. 2 C M

4 Poor establishment of vegetation Unable to progress rehabilitation 2 C M

4 Inadequate species diversity Unable to meet completion criteria 2 C M

4 Inadequate weed control Widespread failure of rehabilitation 3 C H

4 Inadequate feral animal control Widespread failure of rehabilitation 2 C M

4 Insect attack, disease infestation Widespread failure of rehabilitation 2 C M

4 Lack of habitat features Native fauna not present in ecosystem 2 C M

4 Pasture areas not suitable for grazing productively Unable to meet land capability requirements 3 D M



Phase Rehabilitation Threat Potential Adverse Outcome Consequence Likelihood Risk

Rating

4 Lack of follow up maintenance Degradation of rehabilitation quality 3 C H

4/5 Decline in soil quality Degradation of rehabilitation quality 3 D M

4/5 Surface water quality inadequate Unable to meet completion criteria 2 C M

4/5 Lack of bushfire resilience Widespread damage to rehabilitation 3 D M

4/5 Unexpected settlement or surface condition Unable to complete rehabilitation 3 D M

4/5 Severe and/or prolonged drought Widespread failure of revegetation 2 C M

5 Unsatisfactory quality of final void waters Unable to meet completion criteria 3 D M

All Active erosion on rehabilitated areas Degradation of rehabilitation quality 2 C M

All Rehabilitated areas not meeting land capability criteria Unable to complete rehabilitation 3 D M

All Failure to meet completion criteria Unable to relinquish mining lease 3 D M

All Major Storm event Widespread damage to rehabilitation areas 3 D M

All Changing climatic conditions Environmental management failure or inability to meet completion criteria

2 C M

All Major geotechnical failure of OEA Widespread damage to rehabilitation areas 3 D M

All Continuous offsite release of contaminants Long-term management of treatment 3 D M

All Spontaneous Combustion or Acid Rock Drainage Environmental impacts or property damage 3 D M

All New regulatory requirements or community expectations leading to difficulties negotiating or attaining completion criteria.

2 C M



Table 29 Trigger Action Response Plan

Rehabilitation Threat Contributing

Factors Mitigation Measures

Monitoring Process and

Trigger Proposed Response Action

TARP Ref No.

Failure to decommission effectively

Not included in closure planning

Budget constraints

Closure planning to include decommissioning

Visual inspection at time to decommission

Create decommissioning plan if not included in closure planning and remove remaining infrastructure/equipment.

1

Final Landform not compliant

Insufficient material

Not shaped to design

Mine Planning schedules and designs updated annually

Shaping to final landform to design

Survey control and monitoring

GPS equipment utilisation

Mine Planning identify

Design Compliance

Review dump designs and schedules

Discussions with DRE on variance

Changes to MOP and final landform

Remedial work to achieve design

2

Unsuitable surface material

Rocky, carbonaceous or ARD material incorrectly dumped

Inappropriate handling of materials

Mine Planning mining and dump sequences

ARD and Mineral waste management plan

Dump designs

Chemical approval process to use products onsite.

Maintain the contaminated land register via regular reviews.

Visual inspections prior to and during landform establishment

Removal of unsuitable material and replacement with suitable material

Remediation as required

3

Unstable final void or landform

Weak material

Slopes to steep

Slopes not stabilised

Suitable material used

Dump construction geotechnically assessed

Final landform to be rehabilitated as soon as practicable

Visual inspections

Design assessments

Investigate source of instability and develop remediation plan (i.e. backfill, stabilise, redirect water flow)

4

Inadequate growth medium quality

Poor topsoil management

Inadequate

Topsoil management Plan Soil testing

prior to use

Utilisation of appropriate soil ameliorants, where appropriate

Review of topsoil indicator

5







TARP Ref No.

topsoil resource parameters during rehabilitation monitoring program.

Insufficient growth medium quantity

Poor topsoil inventory management

Inadequate topsoil resource

Erosion

Topsoil inventory management

Stabilisation

Topsoil inventory balancing

Mine Planning

Rehabilitation monitoring program

Identify other sources of growth medium.

Re-apply topsoil/growth medium

6

Uncontrolled access

Demarcation not installed

Existing demarcation damages

Demarcation installed after rehabilitation started

Visual inspections

Visual inspections

Install/mend demarcation where required 7

Inadequate seed for rehabilitation

Pre-mining areas may be a poor seed resource

Natural factors

Poor seed management

External supplier issues

Species mix aligned to the floristic structure of the plant community of the site.

Seed viability tests pre-spreading.

Seed areas to match expected seasonal variation/conditions, e.g. cover crops in Summer.

Establish a broad supply base of seed to mitigate supply limitations

Establish a broad species base to mitigate undersupply and climatic variation.


Review Vegetation community and species list

Initiate revegetation program

8

Poor establishment of vegetation

Natural factors

Sowing time

Inadequate growth medium

Seasonal sowing program or cover cropping

Use of ameliorants in growth medium

Broad species base


Create revegetation plan (re-sowing or tube stock), seasonal considerations and finding from investigation.

9

Inadequate species diversity

Natural factors

Inadequate seed quality

Broad species base

Seasonal sowing program or cover cropping

Evidence for species suitability


Review species list and seasonal sowing program 10







TARP Ref No.

Inadequate weed control

Natural Factors

Inadequate topsoil management

Lack of rehabilitation maintenance

Encourage rapid establishment of ground cover (direct application onto or within organic mediums is preferred option).

Weed control undertaken in accordance with the requirements of the Noxious Weeds Act 1993.

Weed species density and distribution monitored.

Weed control undertaken by competent operators.

Topsoil supply assessed for weeds prior to stripping and treated, if required.


Surrounding Landholders

Initiate Weed management program

Regenerate vegetation in affected areas

11

Inadequate feral animal control

Natural Factors


Presence of damage from pest animal species monitored.

Pest animal control undertaken by competent operators


Surrounding Landholders

Initiate Pest management program

Regenerate vegetation in affected areas

12

Insect attack, disease infestation

Natural Factors


Aim to encourage diversity within the vegetation community and undertake regular monitoring.

Encourage spiders, insects, frogs, lizards and insectivorous birds possibly by providing suitable habitat and food resources such as nesting boxes, logs, rocks, wetland areas etc.


Initiate revegetation program to compensate for areas of deficiency

13

Lack of habitat features Logs, fallen

trees and rocks not present in native areas

Ensure that habitat features are included in woodland rehabilitation


Create/install more habitat features in woodland rehabilitation

14

Pasture areas not suitable for grazing productively

Rehabilitation does not meet land capability

Plan grazing trials to ensure suitability by the time of relinquishment

Use of industry knowledge in surrounding area and other mine sites

Results of trials


Review Pasture domain based on results of trials 15







TARP Ref No.

Lack of follow up maintenance

Budget constraints

Undertake regular monitoring and implement action strategy when required

Include suitable maintenance costs in budget


Review budget annually 16

Decline in soil quality Poor quality

Growth medium

Lack of follow up maintenance

Topsoil Management

Rehabilitation Monitoring and maintenance


Initiate additional rehabilitation maintenance to improve soil quality

17

Surface water quality inadequate

Water contamination

Encapsulation of carbonaceous and ARD material

No hazardous material on the landform surface

Stabilise surface as soon as possible


Remediate contamination or stabilise surface depending on the source.

18

Lack of bushfire resilience

Natural factors,

Inappropriate management of fire related risk activities

Inappropriate maintenance of fire controls

Selection of fire-tolerant species for revegetation and adoption of standard fire prevention measures.

Fire management on buffer land, including obligation of lease agreements for landholders to maintain firebreaks and minimise fire hazards.


Monitor regrowth and initiate revegetation program if affected rehabilitation areas do not regenerate. (historical lightning strike on south dump regenerated without intervention)

19

Unexpected settlement or surface condition

Inappropriate dump design or execution.

Dump design includes reject emplacement considerations, and settlement monitoring

Rock raking of rehabilitation areas.

Survey, Rehabilitation monitoring program

Review operating procedures and initiate corrective actions.

20

Severe and/or prolonged drought Natural factors

Selection of drought-tolerant species for revegetation.

Selection of species aligned to desired vegetation community.


Review existing species list and change if required.

Remedial rehabilitation (re-seeding), if required.

21

Unsatisfactory quality of final void waters

Poor design parameters

Upon closure, model final limnology of pit waters to assess risks associated with stratification.

If required, configure final voids to minimise

Water monitoring program

Investigation to identify source, then develop possible remedial actions

22







TARP Ref No.

risk of stratification and overturning.

Active erosion on rehabilitated areas

Poor rehabilitation design

Storm events

Rehabilitation design, which minimises slope >10

o.

Rapidly stabilise the substrate and increase organic matter using sterile cover crops.

Sow with appropriate methods perennial ground cover species suitable to the final land use.


Design Compliance

Complete earthworks to remediate affected areas

Correct drainage lines

Repeat mitigation measures

23

Rehabilitated areas not meeting land capability criteria

Poor rehabilitation design and/or implementation

Review of topsoil indicator parameters during rehabilitation monitoring program.

Rehabilitation design as per specialist technical report.

Landform Design aligns with Class


Investigate and initiate corrective actions 24

Failure to meet completion criteria

Incorrect Completion criteria,

Incorrect implementation of rehabilitation

Correct source/justification for criteria

Annual monitoring of trending data


Revise completion Criteria in conjunction with DRE 25

Major Storm event

Design not compliant to MOP requirements

Natural factors (storm intensity greater than design)

Design final landforms to cope with major storm events ( 1 in 20 year ARI).


Review damage and plan corrective actions including earthworks, drainage and vegetation.

26

Changing climatic conditions

Natural/External factors

Assess climate change risks and implement adaptation measures where required.

Adaptive rehabilitation outcomes/criteria based on long term climatic conditions, as


Develop action plan to revegetate based of future environmental factors and address causes.

27







TARP Ref No.

required.

Use of compost materials and mulches to increase organic carbon levels and improve soil structure with resultant increase in infiltration and water holding capacity.

Major geotechnical failure of OEA

Inadequate dump design

Routine geotechnical assessments.

Slope and dump stability planning.

Survey, Rehabilitation monitoring program

Review modes of failure and initiate plan to correct earthworks and vegetation

28

Continuous offsite release of contaminants

Failure of containment structures

Inappropriate design

Ongoing geochemical characterisation of mined materials and void wall rock during operations to accurately predict risk factors and develop management measures where required.

Ongoing monitoring of runoff and seepage waters during operations to validate predictions.


Water monitoring program

Corrective earthworks to prevent offsite release and remediate the source of contamination.

29

Spontaneous Combustion or Acid Rock Drainage

Natural material properties

Inappropriate handling of materials

Characterisation of spontaneous combustion risk and adoption of standard combustion prevention measures.

ARD and Mineral Waste Management Plan


Dig out affected areas where possible and seal, remedial earthworks with inert material and revegetate.

30

New regulatory requirements or community expectations

External factors

Monitor trends and developments in legislation and changes to community expectations.

Continue to regularly consult with stakeholders to gain acceptance of completion criteria.

New Guidelines and stakeholder engagement processes

Continue to regularly consult with stakeholders to gain acceptance of completion criteria.

31



10 Reporting

10.1 Reporting

The following reporting at Bengalla will be undertaken as per the requirements of Schedule 5 of the

Development Consent SSD-5170:

Annual Review (AR) (previously referred to as Annual Environmental Management Report);

Incident reporting mechanism;

Independent Environmental Audit;

The Annual Review details activities undertaken during the reporting period that support progression

towards the post mining land use goal and rehabilitation objectives. The AR includes:

A summary of mining operations

A summary of rehabilitation activities

Environmental performance of:

o Surface water

o Ground water

o Erosion and sediment control

o Waste management

o Contaminated land

o Flora and Fauna

o Weeds and Pests

Trends in monitoring data

Non-compliances

Actions based on non-conformances, incidents or monitoring results

Proposed activities Including:

o Maintenance on Rehabilitation

o Research and Trials

Any other environmental areas required by the DRE

Bengalla also provides environmental information to the public via website including: Statutory

approvals and associated documents; summary of environmental monitoring results; complaints

register; CCC meeting minutes; Audit information, management plans and any other information

required by the Secretary.

Rehabilitation monitoring is also reported to assess compliance against completion criteria. This

information can and is used in the AR process.



11 Rehabilitation Maps



Plan 1A - Pre Mining Environment – Project Locality



This page has been left blank intentionally



Plan 1B - Pre Mining Environment – Natural Environment



Plan 1C - Pre Mining Environment – Built Environment



Plan 2 - Mine Domains at Commencement of MOP



Plan 3A - Mining and Rehabilitation – 2015



Plan 3B - Mining and Rehabilitation – 2016



Plan 3C - Mining and Rehabilitation – 2017



Plan 3D - Mining and Rehabilitation – 2018



Plan 3E - Mining and Rehabilitation – 2019



Plan 3F - Mining and Rehabilitation – 2020



Plan 3G - Mining and Rehabilitation – 2021



Plan 4 - Final Rehabilitation and Post Mining Land use



Plan 5 - Rehabilitation and Post Mining Land use Cross Sections



12 Review and Implementation of the MOP

12.1 Review of the MOP

This section provides details on the protocol for reviewing and revising the MOP.

The MOP will be reviewed, and if necessary revised when:

Any Modification to the conditions of the Development Consent is submitted;

Any new Development Consent is granted;

A new MOP is to be submitted.

This MOP may also be revised due to:

Changing environmental requirements;

Deficiencies of the MOP being identified;

Changes in legislation;

Result or recommendations from monitoring programs;

Improvements in knowledge or technology;

Where a risk assessment identifies the requirement to alter the MOP; and

Change in the activities or operations associated with Bengalla Mine.

12.2 Implementation

The following table defines the personnel who are responsible for the monitoring, review and

implementation of this MOP.

Table 30: Responsibilities for implementation of the MOP

Title Responsibility

Production / Mine Manager

Implement the procedures referenced in the MOP.

Undertake training in relevant Management Plans and procedures as required.

Provide resources required and support to implement these procedures.

Allow for forward planning to prepare and bulk shape areas for rehabilitation.

Technical Services Manager

Implement the procedures referenced in the MOP.

Undertake training in relevant Management Plans and procedures as required.

Provide resources required and support to implement these procedures.

Allow for forward planning to prepare and bulk shape areas for rehabilitation.

Environmental Specialist

Prepare the relevant Management Plans.

Implement, monitor and review the programmes and procedures linked to this MOP.

Consult with regulatory authorities as required.

Undertake monitoring as required.

Undertake maintenance as required.



Title Responsibility

Provide measures for continual improvement to this MOP and procedures.

Ensure all personnel undertaking works in relation to this MOP are trained and competent.

Report the progress of any rehabilitation and monitoring of biodiversity in the AEMR.

Environmental Advisor

Provide support for the implementation of the Environmental Specialist’s responsibilities



13 References

Agfacts – AC.25 – Agricultural Land Classification, NSW Agriculture

ACARP C20017 - Criteria For Functioning River Landscape Units In Mining And Post Mining Landscapes, March 2014

Bengalla Environmental Impact Study (EIS) 2013

Bengalla Feasibility Study (1993)

Bengalla SEE (2006)

Bengalla EA (2008)

Bengalla EA (2010)

Bengalla DA 211/93

Bengalla DA SSD-5170

Bengalla Response to Submissions (RTS) 2014

Bengalla Mine - Aboriginal Heritage Management Plan

Bengalla Mine - Acid Rock Drainage and Mineral Waste Management Plan

Bengalla Mine - Air Quality & Greenhouse Gas Management Plan

Bengalla Mine - European Heritage Management Plan

Bengalla Mine - Land Management Plan

Bengalla Mine - Landscape Management Plan

Bengalla Mine - Noise Management Plan

Bengalla Mine - Pollution Incident Response Management Plan

Bengalla Mine - Rehabilitation Management Plan

Bengalla Mine - Slope and Dump Management Plan

Bengalla Mine - Water Management Plan

Burns, M (2005) The keys to sustainable ecosystem establishment on mine sites, Global Soil Systems, June 2005

Burns, M (2015) Expanded Rehabilitation Details in Support of the Bengalla MOP, Global Soil Systems, March 2015

CSIRO - Ecosystem Function Analysis (EFA) tool (Tongway and Hindley, 2004)

DP&I Synoptic Plan: Integrated Landscapes for Coal Mine Rehabilitation in the Hunter Valley of New South Wales

EP&A Act

ESG3 – Mining Operations Plan Guidelines

Hazelton, P. and Murphy, B. (2007) Interpreting soil test results – What do all the numbers mean?, NSW Department of Natural Recourses, CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood

Heritage Act register of Heritage Orders

Hunter Regional Plan Heritage schedule

Mining Act 1992

National Parks and Wildlife Amendment Act 2010

National Trust Register



Topsoil Management Guide for Bengalla Mine

Wantana Extension SEE

Development of Rehabilitation Completion Criteria for Native Ecosystem Establishment on the Coal Mines in the Hunter Valley (ACARP, Nichols, 2005);

Class III Land Rehabilitation – Bengalla Mine Site (GSS Environmental 2012)



14 Acronyms

A HIP Aboriginal Heritage Impact Permit AL Assessment Lease ARD Acid Rock Drainage BJV Bengalla Joint Venture BMC Bengalla Mining Company BMP Biodiversity Management Plan CCC Community Consultative Committee CHPP Coal Handling Preparation Plant CNA Coal & Allied CNAADF Coal & Allied Aboriginal Development Fund CNAEP Coal & Allied Environmental Procedure DA Development Application DMC Dense Medium Cyclones DMR Department of Mineral Resources DOP Department of Planning DP&I Department of Planning and Infrastructure DP&E Department of Planning & Environment DPI Department of Primary Industries DRE Division of Energy and Resources DTIRIS Department of Trade and Investment, Regional Infrastructure and Services EA Environmental Assessment EIS Environmental Impact Statement EMS Environmental Management System EP&A Environmental Planning and Assessment EPL Environmental Protection License ESU Environnemental Sustainability Unit GDP Ground Disturbance Permit GPS Global Positioning System HSEQ Health, Safety Environment and Quality HRSTS Hunter River Salinity Trading Scheme ISS Intake Switching Station LOX Line of Oxidation MAC Mt Arthur Coal ML Mining Lease MOP Mine Operations Plan MSC Muswellbrook Shire Council MTP Mt Pleasant NOW New South Wales Office of Water OEA Overburden Emplacement Area OEH Office of Environment and Heritage RCE Rehabilitation Cost Estimate ROM Run Of Mine RTCA Rio Tinto Coal Australia RTEMS Real Time Environmental Monitoring System SoEE Statement of Environmental Effects SOEA Southern Overburden Emplacement Area TLO Train Load Out WOEA Western Overburden Emplacement Area ZOA Zone Of Affectation



Appendix A – SSD-5170 Modification 1