Mine rehabilitation & closure

Western Australia’s resources sector operates across diverse environments, creating different rehabilitation challenges and expectations.

Decisions about closure and rehabilitation need to consider ecological trajectories, landforms, soils, vegetation, fauna, climate, monitoring and long-term management.

Yet evidence about what constitutes successful rehabilitation, how quickly outcomes can be achieved and which approaches are most effective is not always consistent or readily transferable between sites.

This creates uncertainty for proponents, regulators and communities.

WABSI works with end users to identify where better science could improve decisions and reduce uncertainty.

The resulting research agenda can address rehabilitation condition-setting, indicators of recovery, monitoring, restoration approaches, costs and longer-term outcomes.

Independent research is coordinated across ecology, restoration, environmental management and industry practice.

The goal is not to prescribe a single rehabilitation pathway, but to develop stronger evidence that can support context-specific decisions.

Better knowledge can improve planning, investment and accountability while supporting biodiversity outcomes and responsible resource development.

WABSI starts with the decisions faced by proponents, regulators and land managers, then identifies the evidence needed to improve confidence.

Research is co-designed with end users and coordinated across complementary science and operational expertise.

The approach recognises that rehabilitation is context-specific and that successful outcomes depend on ecological conditions, management choices and time.

Findings are translated into evidence, frameworks, tools and guidance that can inform planning, monitoring and closure.

By connecting independent science with industry and regulatory needs, WABSI helps build a stronger evidence base for rehabilitation while strengthening Western Australia’s broader restoration capability.