Sustainable Planning for Managing the Impacts of Mining at Moranbah and the

Bowen Basin

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The Bowen Basin in a State contextSustainable Planning for Managing the Impacts of Mining at Moranbah and the

Bowen Basin

Source: Department of Natural Resources & Mines (December 2005) “Queensland’s World-class Coals – Mine Production and Developments”

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Moranbah and the Bowen BasinSustainable Planning for Managing the Impacts of Mining at Moranbah and the

Bowen Basin

Source: Department of Natural Resources & Mines (December 2005) “Queensland’s World-class Coals – Mine Production and Developments”

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Sustainable Planning for Managing the Impacts of Mining at Moranbah and the Bowen BasinCoal Reserves in the Bowen Basin

• The Bowen Basin coalfield is one of Australia’s primary coal mining areas.

• Sufficient known reserves exist in the Bowen Basin for over 200 years at current extraction rates.

• The coalfield has some 20 operational mines, with a further 10-15 under consideration or in the early development stage.

• Future development activity over the next 5-10 years is likely to be concentrated in the Moranbah and Nebo areas.

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Moranbah and Coal ReservesSustainable Planning for Managing the Impacts of Mining at Moranbah and the

Bowen Basin

Source: Department of Natural Resources & Mines (February 2006)

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Moranbah and Coal ReservesSustainable Planning for Managing the Impacts of Mining at Moranbah and the

Bowen Basin

Source: Department of Natural Resources & Mines (February 2006)

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Issues

• Expansion of mining operations• Increase in workforce to support expansion• Rapid increase in Moranbah’s population –

permanent and transient• Accommodating the workforce/population

growth• Constraints on town expansion – coal reserves• Balancing local and State interests – valuable

coal resources versus town expansion• Immediate, short, medium and long term

management issues.

Sustainable Planning for Managing the Impacts of Mining at Moranbah and the Bowen Basin

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Issues

• Population growth issues:– Urban growth

• Where can the town expand to accommodate the growth – supply of land?

• High demand for land for development• Timing and sequencing of developments

– Social impacts• Housing choice and affordability• Capacity of existing social services• Skilled labour market

– Economic impacts• Capacity of infrastructure• Water Supply

Sustainable Planning for Managing the Impacts of Mining at Moranbah and the Bowen Basin

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Issues

• Mine expansion issues:– Environmental Impacts

• Air quality• Noise• Water• Land disturbance• Mine rehabilitation• Mine subsidence• Methane gas emissions

Sustainable Planning for Managing the Impacts of Mining at Moranbah and the Bowen Basin

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Managing the Issues

The Minister for Environment, Local Government, Planning and Women decided that the State will assist the Belyando Shire Council in resolving the issues associated with growth at Moranbah by:

– establishing a Moranbah Growth Management Group (MGMG); and

– preparing a Mining Town Sustainable Management Framework.

The main task of the Moranbah Growth Management Group is to assist the Belyando Shire Council to prepare and achieve broad agreement to a Master Plan for short, medium and long term options for sustainable management at Moranbah.

Sustainable Planning for Managing the Impacts of Mining at Moranbah and the Bowen Basin

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Managing the Issues

• Membership of the Group is to comprise– Jim Pearce, MP (Chair);– Belyando Shire Council;– Department of Local Government, Planning, Sport and

Recreation;– BMA;– Anglo Coal; – Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Water;– The Office of the Coordinator-General; and– Others as required.

• The Moranbah Growth Management Group will identify issues, policies and options which may be taken to the Coal Industry Taskforce for consideration. The Coal Industry Taskforce regularly reports to Cabinet Budget Review Committee on the progress of the Coal Infrastructure Program of Actions and will incorporate reporting on the Moranbah Growth Management Group into these reports.

Sustainable Planning for Managing the Impacts of Mining at Moranbah and the Bowen Basin

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Managing the Issues

• Issues identified by MGMG

– The need to identify options to manage immediate and short term growth

– The timing and sequencing of development options to manage growth, which may also influence a correction in the housing market

– The need to consider medium and long term issues to ensure sustainable management of Moranbah

– Water supply– Management of the cumulative impacts of the current

expansion of mining operations and any future plans to establish open cut mining operations in close proximity to Moranbah

Sustainable Planning for Managing the Impacts of Mining at Moranbah and the Bowen Basin

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Sustainable Management in Mining Towns

• Planning for Sustainable Communities

– Managing the cumulative social, economic and environmental impacts

– Managing cultural impacts– Managing the urban lifecycle - stages of growth

(urbanization), decline (suburbanization), and rejuvenation (reverse urbanization)

– Managing risks– Collaborative approach– Corporate Social Responsibility– Balancing a productive mining industry and sustainable

and vibrant communities– Capacity for economic diversification

Sustainable Planning for Managing the Impacts of Mining at Moranbah and the Bowen Basin

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Sustainable Management Outcome Statement

Protecting social, economic, cultural and environmental values and economic growth for the State for future generationsin meeting community and mining industry intereststhrough the State and local governments, the mining industry and communities working collaborativelyto support sustainable and vibrant communities and a productive mining industry.

Sustainable Planning for Managing the Impacts of Mining at Moranbah and the Bowen Basin

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Key Impacts

• Positive impacts– Stimulation of economic activity – both locally and across the State

in terms of related industry, disposable income etc.– Local employment opportunities

• Negative Impacts– Short term

• Overheated housing market - housing affordability• Strain on the labour market – both locally and in associated

towns– Long term

• Sustaining a skilled labour market – both locally and in associated towns

• Sustaining a viable housing market – both locally and in associated towns

• Sustaining a viable local and regional economy

Direct and Cumulative Social and EconomicEconomic

Sustainable Planning for Managing the Impacts of Mining at Moranbah and the Bowen Basin

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Key Impacts

• Positive impacts– Growth and community wellbeing

• Negative Impacts– Short term

• Potential diminishment of quality of lifestyle, amenity and liveability

• Limited housing choice due to rapid short term growth– Long term

• Oversupply of permanent style housing

Direct and Cumulative Social and EconomicSocial

Sustainable Planning for Managing the Impacts of Mining at Moranbah and the Bowen Basin

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Key Impacts

• Positive impacts– Focus on developing Environmental Management Plans

• Negative Impacts– Air quality– Noise– Water– Land disturbance and degradation– Mine rehabilitation– Mine subsidence– Methane gas emissions

Direct and Cumulative Social and EconomicEnvironmental

Sustainable Planning for Managing the Impacts of Mining at Moranbah and the Bowen Basin

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Sustainable Management in Mining Towns

1.Leadership2.Collaboration3.Corporate Social Responsibility4.Sustainability 5.Communication6.Community Engagement

Sustainable Planning for Managing the Impacts of Mining at Moranbah and the Bowen Basin

Key Principles

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Key Principles - Actions

1.Improving the Environmental Impact Assessment process to include cumulative social, economic and environmental impact assessment.

2.Strategic Plan for Moranbah3.Mining Town Sustainable Management

Framework

Sustainable Planning for Managing the Impacts of Mining at Moranbah and the Bowen Basin