Revegetation Contractors has been working with numerous mining consortium's from coal to metalliferous projects since 1993.

Revegetation Contractors has been contracted to re-vegetate mine waste dumps, tailings dams and waterways for Red Dome Gold Mine. Prior to implementing any rehabilitation works, Revegetation Contractors conducted grass and tree trials on heap leach pads so that  a suitable species selection could take place. Planting techniques were also specifically developed for this particular mine site.

Techniques utilised in the re-vegetation programme included air seeding, fertiliser and sulphur spreading, hydro-mulching, hydro-seeding, hay-mulching and native tube-stock planting.

Initial works on site included the development of a site nursery, staff training and supervision of native plantings. Over 250 hectares of the site has been treated and the site was decommissioned in the '98/'99 wet season.

Rehabilitation Planning

Revegetation Contractors was recently commission by NSR Environmental Consultants Pty Ltd. to provide an assessment of a number of aspects of rehabilitation for planning purposes at the proposed Asia Pacific Nickel Project on Gag Island, Indonesia.

The objectives of the assessment were as follows:

• to undertake a materials characterisation study
• to develop a series of re-vegetation trials and recommend further steps to be taken
• to develop a total project rehabilitation plan to discuss the environmental implications for mine planning arising from the handling of materials disturbed by mining
• to propose a rehabilitation plan which outlines beneficial end uses for the mined land on Gag Island

The studies were undertaken in conjunction with Natural Resource Assessments who assisted in the design and establishment of the trials and undertook the monitoring and data analysis of the trial results. Re-vegetation trials were an important component of the works conducted at Gag Island. Part of the rehabilitation plan was required to address the significant erosion problems on site. Coconut husks and fibre were trialled for their effectiveness as a soil stabilisation medium.

Project work on mine sites include:

• stabilisation of waterways from overload drainage to major river diversions
• rehabilitation of waste dumps, tailings dams, heap leach dumps, decommissioned work areas
• rehabilitation planning
• sediment control
• water monitoring
• training of field staff & environmental officers
• setting up nurseries