Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697643091100.pdf (Australia)
FRANK BATINI FIFA Rehabilitation of mining and resources projects as it relates to Commonwealth responsibilitiesSubmission 75 - Attachment 2 WATER  ENVIRONMENTAL VALUES STREAMS, BIOTA, ECOSYSTEMS, TREES  ECONOMIC VALUES $ 1250- $2500/HA/ANNUM ( 50-100 mmpa FLOW) Some catchments have contributed for over 100 years ( As a comparison- bauxite royalty $ 100,000/ha as a once-off) Rehabilitation of mining and resources projects as it relates to Commonwealth responsibilitiesSubmission 75 - Attachment 2 31 MILE BROOK IN EARLY AUGUST 2016 ( Average flow 1986-1998 was 150 mmpa, DoW data.
No mining.
However, with mining there is an even greater change) Rehabilitation of mining and resources projects as it relates to Commonwealth responsibilitiesSubmission 75 - Attachment 2 BULLICH, DIED SUMMER 2011, SUCKERING FROM BASE Stream-zone located below bauxite pits Rehabilitation of mining and resources projects as it relates to Commonwealth responsibilitiesSubmission 75 - Attachment 2 A SHORT HISTORY- BAUXITE  1964, 4 ha/an, 400 ha in 100 years  2016, 600 ha/an, 25000 ha 50 years  About 20-30 percent of each catchment is mined  Therefore a much greater catchment area is impacted ( about 75000 ha)  Alcoa is considering direct export of bauxite.
Area mined annually will increase substantially.
Rehabilitation of mining and resources projects as it relates to Commonwealth responsibilitiesSubmission 75 - Attachment 2 Mining by Alcoa on water-supply catchments ( Map credit-Alcoa) Rehabilitation of mining and resources projects as it relates to Commonwealth responsibilitiesSubmission 75 - Attachment 2 Mining processes Outline of processes undertaken Initial emphasis- Successful rehabilitation with trees/shrubs To prevent erosion key sources- slope adjacent to reservoirs wave action wildfire My current emphasis- Water yield and ecological health Rehabilitation of mining and resources projects as it relates to Commonwealth responsibilitiesSubmission 75 - Attachment 2 Original rehabilitation was clear-felled at age 35 and sold, area is now ready for sowing.
Jarrahdale.

Rehabilitation of mining and resources projects as it relates to Commonwealth responsibilitiesSubmission 75 - Attachment 2 16 YEAR OLD PLOT REHABILITATED WITH NATIVE SPECIES (1800 stems/ha, 45 percent cover, leaf area index is 2, basal area 25 m2/ha) Rehabilitation of mining and resources projects as it relates to Commonwealth responsibilitiesSubmission 75 - Attachment 2 Karri in bauxite pit planted at Jarrahdale about 36 years ago.

Estimated volume about 280 m3/ha.


CO2+H2O+E+Ch=CHO (E)+O2 Rehabilitation of mining and resources projects as it relates to Commonwealth responsibilitiesSubmission 75 - Attachment 2 Has rehabilitation been too successful?

 Mining= logging and regeneration + rehabilitation of mine pits+ dieback forest rehabilitation + a reduced level of prescribed burning  Between 1989 and 2007, leaf areas have increased after mining (CSIRO), even as rainfall has fallen.
 More than half of the rehabilitated areas are now above the desired tree density (Alcoa, 2007)  As leaf cover doubles ( 25-50 percent), stream- yield falls by 80 percent ( Schofield et al) Rehabilitation of mining and resources projects as it relates to Commonwealth responsibilitiesSubmission 75 - Attachment 2 DECLINE IN STREAMFLOW ATTRIBUTABLE TO BAUXITE MINING  The decline in stream-flow from 7 mined catchments was 66 percent and, over the same period, catchments that were not mined declined by 40 percent (CSIRO, based on DoW data)  As the area mined increases, the reduction in flow also increases (DoW and Alcoa data, see table)  The decline in yield from catchments that were mined is 40-50mm greater than in the control ( Alcoa 2007)  On the 75000 ha affected by mining a loss of 50 mm would reduce yield by 37Gl annually  To produce 37Gl by desalination would cost the State $ 90 million  Bauxite royalty ( Alcoa + S32, 2014/15 ) was $82.5 million Rehabilitation of mining and resources projects as it relates to Commonwealth responsibilitiesSubmission 75 - Attachment 2 REDUCTIONS IN STREAMFLOW BETWEEN CATCHMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MINED FOR BAUXITE AND AREAS THAT WERE NOT MINED Catchment Flow volume Area mined by Alcoa Name 2010-2015 as a percentage of the as a percent of catchment (Alcoa ) flow pre-2000 (DoW) Waterfall gully 30 percent Nil Del Park 10 percent 32 percent Influences that affect flow Rainfall, growth of native forest and understorey Rainfall, growth of native forest, understorey, rehabilitation of mined area and of dieback forest Seldom Seen 12 percent 34 percent More Seldom Seen 6 percent 62 percent Rainfall, growth of native forest, understorey, rehabilitation of mined area and of dieback forest Rainfall, growth of native forest understorey, rehabilitation of mined area and of dieback forest  Alcoa have thinned their catchment twice to increase yield  Funding is not available for water-supply and irrigation catchments Rehabilitation of mining and resources projects as it relates to Commonwealth responsibilitiesSubmission 75 - Attachment 2 Alcoa Completion Criteria 2016 (MMPLG)  The Completion Criteria cover many pages  Key recommendations made by the Bauxite hydrology sub- committee were not included  There is no criterion that specifically addresses water yield post mining  Aspirational targets are set for desirable tree density over time but  There is no money for implementation of thinning programs Rehabilitation of mining and resources projects as it relates to Commonwealth responsibilitiesSubmission 75 - Attachment 2 WHAT CAN BE DONE ?
30 yo rehab in bauxite pit thinned by Water Corporation in 2010 to 7 m2 ( 75% reduction) Photographed 2016 Rehabilitation of mining and resources projects as it relates to Commonwealth responsibilitiesSubmission 75 - Attachment 2 WHAT CAN BE DONE?
70 yo jarrah forest thinned by Water Corporation in 2007 to 11m2 ( 66 percent reduction) Photographed 2016 Silviculture and water enhancement are compatible Rehabilitation of mining and resources projects as it relates to Commonwealth responsibilitiesSubmission 75 - Attachment 2 WHAT CAN BE DONE?

Rehabilitate 30 percent of pits with low understorey species Rehabilitation of mining and resources projects as it relates to Commonwealth responsibilitiesSubmission 75 - Attachment 2 WHAT CAN BE DONE?
More regular low-intensity burning Rehabilitation of mining and resources projects as it relates to Commonwealth responsibilitiesSubmission 75 - Attachment 2 WHAT CAN BE ACHIEVED?

 Water Corporation data (Reed et al 2012) show that if 6000 ha a year are managed appropriately on a 10 year recurring cycle ( say 60000 ha in all) the estimated annual increase in yield would be 22Gl in the first cycle and 45Gl in subsequent cycles.
 This is equivalent to the production from the original desalination plant at Kwinana  It costs about $2.50 to produce a Kilolitre by desalination or $ 2.5 million for each Gigalitre  The additional annual water yield from forests would cost some $55 to $110 million to produce by desalination  The cost of implementation is estimated at $7 million pa  There are additional benefits to streams, ecosystems, biota, trees, employment, forest products and biomass.

 THIS IS THE COMPLETE PACKAGE!!


Rehabilitation of mining and resources projects as it relates to Commonwealth responsibilitiesSubmission 75 - Attachment 2 BUT  Inertia  Apathy  Opposition  Political concerns  No action (when all is said and done……..) Rehabilitation of mining and resources projects as it relates to Commonwealth responsibilitiesSubmission 75 - Attachment 2 Jarrah thinned to 15 m2.

Discovery forest 2016 (D Spriggins).


Rehabilitation of mining and resources projects as it relates to Commonwealth responsibilitiesSubmission 75 - Attachment 2