The Project

Lighthouse Project 2 (LHP 2): The development and application of a multi criteria Post Mining Land Use (PMLU) business case assessment

Under the Queensland State Government's Regional Economic Futures Fund enviroMETS has been awarded the opportunity to develop an innovative business case methodology to provide a repeatable, reliable and comparable assessment of various post-mining land use options.

It is to be used to assess PMLU options for  sites at various points in the mine life cycle, from feasibility planning through operations, to the cease of extraction and beyond. Including the assessment of options for rehabilitation of abandoned mine land.

To deliver the project enviroMETS will be drawing on our ecosystem of registered contributing participants who are subject matter experts in each of the components of net best value to be quantified in the project. CRC TiME has been nominated as our Lead Research Partner.

The Team

enviroMETS (Qld) is accountable for the project delivery, through its Executive Director (Allan Morton). A project management team has been appointed composing of Project Leader (Dr Ian Dover), Project Manager (Joe Ippolito), Commercial Manager (Mark Johannessen), and our Lead Research Partner, CRC TiME (Dr Bryan Maybee).

The Objective

The development and application of a multi criteria Post Mining Land Use (PMLU) business case assessment tool applied across nominated REFF regions; these being North-West, Greater Whitsunday and Central Highlands.

Project Background

Mining remains a critically important economic contributor to Queensland. Over the coming decade, many mines within the REFF regions will be approaching end-of-life, an event that significantly impacts regional communities in terms of employment and other economic and social benefits.

The impacts of these end-of-life events can be mitigated or avoided altogether if viable alternative high value productive Post Mining Land Use (PMLU) options - other than the traditional return-to-grazing or nature are identified and evaluated for implementation.

EnviroMETS Queensland (eMQ) is an independent, industry led, not-for-profit, company established with a mission to find innovative and sustainable new ways to make mining impacted land more valuable to its current, and future custodians. To support the organisation’s vision, eMQ has initiated the three stage Lighthouse Project.

A critical precursor stage of work Lighthouse Project 1 (LHP1), Investigating PMLU Regulatory and Industry Practices has been completed and a report published. eMQ is now undertaking further studies to provide additional briefing material for stakeholders. This work was financially supported by the Department of State Development and Infrastructure.

Project Summary

LHP2 will develop the multi criteria assessment tool (MCAT), a methodology for building a business case valuation model for potential PMLU options. The MCAT methodology will include, in addition to the traditional economic and financial assessment, quantitative inputs including best value to the community, environment, and traditional owners.

This will allow stakeholders to understand the holistic benefits thatappropriate PMLU options can bring to the affected communities, improving the investability for stakeholders.

The initiative will position Queensland as a leader in the development of innovative solutions for sustainable development and ‘net benefit’ improvement of residual outcomes of mining PMLU operations.

The LHP2 project will develop a reliable model that supports a business case toolkit that quantifies the value created by the implementation of nominated PMLU options.

The methodology will quantify (initially in metrics, then $’s) the value created across five key categories:

1. Residual or new mineral extraction
2. New commercial enterprises
3. Social value uplift for the town or region
4. Environmental improvement
5. Indigenous cultural and heritage gains, and
6. Net Best Value for PMLU options will be drawn together though a systems controller module.

Pre-project activities completed include a stakeholder survey of PLMU priorities and a kick off workshop to validate design scope. The project will include a detailed feasibility study of themes for PMLU options and their implementation in each of the nominated REFF regions.

LHP3 projects, not part of the project, will follow with the detailed feasibility studies for investment and implementation of ‘sandbox’ pilot sites.

Next Steps

Extended information on this project is available here for registered website participants who have nominated, and been accepted as "Contributors".
For more information on this refer to /Join Us. 

Registered Contributing Participants may download extended details about this project, and the individual EoI documents for each of the component modules requiring subject matter experts to be commercially engaged.
Link to LHP2 Project Page for Registered Contributors.

If you require further information about this project please contact our Project Manager via projects@enviroMETS.net.au  

Invitation for Expressions of Interest

This project is designed to utilise the breadth and depth of organisations and individual subject matter experts of enviroMETS' ecosystem.

Purpose of EoI

EnviroMETS is a hot-for-profit organisation that draws its capacity and capability from the collective skills and experience of its registered participants.

This EoI process enables our subject matter expert participants an opportunity to contribute to the mission on a commercial basis. 

Context 

The EoI is to identify and engage organizations and persons with the rights skills and interest in developing a business case model for the purposes of enabling alternate innovative higher value PMLU solutions for investment.

Task

Refer download package and its appendix schedule

Scope

Refer download package and its appendix schedule

Timeline for Delivery

Refer download package and its appendix schedules

Desired Outcomes

The business case model intends to provide a quantitive and comparable guide to best net value of different optional futures for post-mining land to guide investments.

Such  investments may be solely by the mining lease holders, new entrepreneurs, governments and forms of trusts. And, combinations thereof as private-public partnerships.

Evaluation and Assessment of EoIs

The LHP2 project leadership team involving both enviroMETS and CRC TiME, will assess all applications and soon thereafter receive feedback as to next steps.

If any organisation directly linked via sponsorship, directorship or advisor makes an application, that party will not form part of the assessment team.

Awarding of Contracts

A separate stand-alone contract with enviroMETS will be awarded for all or part of the planned assessment modules being developed within LHP2.

Restrictions

All participants contributing to the project delivery must be registered on the enviroMETS website as Contributors, preferably LHP Participants.

Lodgement Requirements  

We require the form provide in the download pack to be completed. IT must also be delivered to projects@enviromets.net.au by the due date: COB 31 October 2024

Feedback

Receipt of the application will be acknowledged by email.  

Thereafter further communications may be verbal, or by meetings. 

The final advise feedback will be in writing from the enviroMETS Project leader.