How clearer strategy and precaution could make mining better for all
Mining proposals are often hugely controversial in South Africa and can even lead to violence. Better strategic assessments based on participation and precaution would help.
Academic rigour, journalistic flair
Articles on Environmental assessment
Displaying 1 - 20 of 32 articles
Perth Green Growth Plan puts strategic environmental assessments to the city test
With a strategic plan adopted, it not only shows where development should be avoided but clears the way for development in other areas. So Perth needs to get it right.
No to rehab? The mining downturn risks making mine clean-ups even more of an afterthought
Rehabilitating old mines is a crucial responsibility for the industry. But many Australian mine sites have been simply left alone or left for the taxpayer to fix.
Eats, shoots and leaves: what the movie industry does to ‘location’
Movie sets shot on location can leave a lasting effect. But compared to other industries, their impacts are small.
What should we do with Australia’s 50,000 abandoned mines?
Wandering around Australia, you might want to watch your step — the country currently has more than 50,000 abandoned mines. Some represent a significant threat from contamination; others may pose safety…
‘Green tape’ cuts: industry wins, locals and the environment lose
Deep cuts to environmental programs and staff predicted in today’s federal budget aren’t the only “green” cuts that Australians should be concerned about. The federal government is currently holding an…
Environmental job cuts risk a repeat of Gladstone failures
A long-awaited report on environmental failures at the biggest port along the Great Barrier Reef coastline and today’s federal budget may not seem connected – but if you read the report, it’s clear just…
The state of Australia: our environment
In the lead-up to the budget, the story of crisis has been hammered home, but there’s more to a country than its structural deficit. So how is Australia doing overall? In this special series, ten writers…
Explainer: one-stop-shop for environmental approvals
The new Federal Government has approved a broad framework for achieving a “one-stop-shop” that will hand to state and territory governments the final decisions on projects assessed under Australia’s main…
It all adds up: port development on the Great Barrier Reef
The Queensland and Australian government’s draft strategic assessment of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area has been released today. The strategic assessment was prompted by the 2012 UNESCO-IUCN…
Coal and gas projects can’t be rushed: here’s why
New environment minister Greg Hunt recently announced 50 large coal and coal seam gas developments to be pushed through Australia’s environmental approval process, including assessment under the new federal…
Commonwealth will keep environmental power over state projects
The Commonwealth will not delegate to the states decisions under its national environmental laws in which the states have a “conflict of interest”. Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt confirmed this…
Coal’s damage is cumulative: let’s assess it that way
Mine operators have proposed nine major new coal mines for the Galilee Basin in central Queensland. Those proposals currently being assessed by the Queensland government could significantly impact water…
Opposition plan to surrender environmental approvals a messy backward step
While the political focus in Australia was on the Labor Party leadership challenge, the Opposition released its policy for “a one-stop-shop for environmental approvals”. The policy claims that handing…
Can we trust Clive? Commercial-in-confidence coal mines
Clive Palmer’s Waratah Coal claims its Galilee Coal Project, which will create four underground mines, two open-cut mines, and 468 kilometres of railway line in central Queensland, will bring economic…
Regulating water: debate swirls around Commonwealth’s role
The release of a Senate report into a Commonwealth water trigger marks another chapter in a debate that has simmered and bubbled for 30 years in Australia. The report recommends that the main Commonwealth…
Clam fossils hold ecological stability secrets
Cornell University’s Paleontological Research Institution in conjunction with University of Cincinnati researchers have discovered…
Coal and gas fail the test when it comes to environmental impact
There has been an acceleration in the number of coal seam gas and mining proposals approved in Australia. Since 2010, eight projects have been given the green light in Queensland alone. All projects have…
Environmental assessment of coal seam gas lacks scientific back-up
Yesterday, the Federal government issued new recommendations for methods to estimate emissions from conventional gas and from coal seam gas production. So what did we learn? The proposals seek to refine…
Federal government’s control of coal seam gas a welcome relief
The Federal Government has moved to exert greater control over coal seam gas mining projects which are currently largely in the hands of the states. Under the proposed new rules if a coal seam gas project…
Top contributors
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Adjunct researcher, Global Change Institute, The University of Queensland
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Emeritus Professor, School of Science, Griffith University
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Honorary Fellow in Economics, The University of Queensland
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Director of the Centre for Energy and Natural Resources Law, Deakin Law School, Deakin University
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Senior Lecturer, Hydrogeology & Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering, RMIT University
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Senior Lecturer, Griffith University
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Professor of Sustainability, Curtin University
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Professor, Melbourne Law School, University of Melbourne
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Adjunct Professor, Crawford School, Australian National University
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Honorary Associate, Media and Communication, La Trobe University., La Trobe University
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Professor of Conservation and Sustainable Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University
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PhD Candidate, University of Melbourne
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Senior Lecturer in Sustainable Architecture, University of Melbourne
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Professorial Fellow, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University
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Professor of Environmental and Climate Law, University of Melbourne
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