Do More with Our Holes in The Ground

Dr Pete Whitbread-Abrutat – Visit to Queensland –
Exploring Fresh Ideas for Post-Mining Land Use Options

A LEADING advisor of innovative mine site rehabilitation visited Queensland in July 2024 to connect with our forward-thinking resources sector.

Future Terrains International’s Dr Peter Whitbread-Abrutat’s research work provided the foundation for the 2009 Eden Project book “101 Things to Do with a Hole in the Ground”, which sold thousands of copies around the world in four languages. Its sequel “102 Things…”, has just been published.

For over 30 years Peter has been exploring, researching and tackling the issues around sustainable mine site transformation. He brings unique international experience of many hundreds of successful innovative post-mining projects to Queensland. 

Working with the team from enviroMETS who are leading the charge across Queensland in this space, Dr Whitbread-Abrutat spoke at events in Brisbane, Mackay and Mount Isa. These included two half-day workshops exploring a new approach to post-mining land use (PMLU); remining for restoration; repurposing for new economic enterprises; revitalising local and regional mining communities; restoration of the disturbed environment; and, rejuvenation of cultural and heritage values. Preferably the highest net value combination of all.

Peter’s visit provides a key plank to the delivery of ‘The Lighthouse Project 2’ which is focused on assessing the net best value of various PMLU options. Our goal is to change the narrative around post mining land use, so that we use language like mine site transformation instead of mine closure.

Peter and his book were key to amplifying this message with his experiences of understanding what has worked (and what hasn’t) in transforming old mines into sustainable economic, social and ecological opportunities.

An example of this is the Eden Project in England, where Dr Whitbread-Abrutat worked for 12 years and was part of the Eden team that transformed the crater of a 160-year-old china clay mine into a state-of-the-art environmental education garden and home to the largest greenhouses in the world – where tropical rainforest trees can reach 50 metres high! Eden attracts about a million tourists each year.

Dr Whitbread-Abrutat believes that the types of approaches and philosophies behind Eden could apply to Queensland (and elsewhere) to help regenerate mining towns through economically, socially and environmentally viable solutions.

Restoring an end-of-life mine to its original state may not be the best solution to address this triple bottom line, usually because the original socio-economic and environmental context for the mine will be different by the time mining activity ceases. The PMLU needs to reflect and support the new context, not the old one.

The number of mines due to close in Queensland in coming years presents an opportunity to look at alternatives to back to past use; nature or grazing land.

Things like intensive food production, water resources, active recreation and tourism, industry hubs and renewable energy projects, while ensuring ecological integrity and connectivity and provide community social assets, are all potential solutions for these sites.

We know innovative mine-site rehabilitation is a priority and our goal is to increase the awareness of our resources sector and wider community to this growing issue.

Peter's visit was made possible with the support of Queensland Government, Department of State Development and Infrastructure, and corporate sponsors interested in pursuing higher value productive PMLU options.