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A contemporary rehabilitation program

The Sunnyside open-cut mine was operational from 2008 until 2012, when it was placed into care and maintenance. ​​

The mine resumed operations in the second half of 2017 with the aim of mining the remaining coal and fully rehabilitating the site. Coal sales from the mine will effectively fund the full and final rehabilitation of the mine site, providing a contemporary example of a rehabilitation program to the local community.

Operation Sunnyside Mine
Ownership 100% ownership
Commenced operations 2008-2012; recommenced in 2017
Location 15km west of Gunnedah
Type of operation Open cut coal mine
Operating hours N/A
Production approval 0.4 million tonnes run of mine coal per annum
Stage of operation Rehabilitation
Workforce 20
Rehabilitation
Sunnyside mine
MORE ON REHABILITATION
Before mining, the area had been cleared for agricultural cultivation and grazing, with a predominantly cropping and pastoral land use.

The rehabilitation process is intended to return the site to pastures in the flat areas (approx. 54.43 ha) and woodland (approx. 35.3 ha) on the slopes, to reflect the surrounding vegetation. While the majority will be agricultural land, the rehabilitation strategy also includes enhancing biodiversity – in particular, some areas that were not disturbed by mining are being planted with tree species used by koalas to create movement corridors between separated woodlands. Key activities until about 2025 include maintenance of the landform to ensure it is safe and stable, and to control feral animals and weeds.

Progress

Approvals

Community



Sunnyside Mine CCC MEMBER DETAILS AND CONTACTS

Environmental Management, Monitoring & Compliance

Contacts

Sunnyside Mine

Contact us for more information, to provide feedback or to lodge a complaint.

 1800 WHAVEN (1800 942 836)

 

All contacts

Sunnyside Mine Timeline

FY08

Mining commences

FY12

Mining operations suspended

FY13-17

Mine placed into care and maintenance

FY18

Mining re-commenced in the second half of 2017

FY20

Extraction and transport of coal to be completed

Future Planning

The final year of mine operations

Mining at Sunnyside is expected to be completed during FY20. Rehabilitation is also occurring progressively, with final shaping of the landform and planting to be undertaken following the conclusion of coal mining. A Closure Mining Operations Plan has been approved to support the mine’s rehabilitation.


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