The mineral sector, which includes mining for ilmenite, gold, garnet and rare earth elements (but importantly, not coal), provides an important opportunity for low-impact resource extraction sector employment to support thriving local communities. These resources exist in areas that are home to important wetlands and other high value surface water ecosystems, and hence careful investigation of hydrological systems coupled with robust water management system design is essential to avoid the potential for adverse environmental effects.
We have combined our extensive knowledge of hydrological systems, investigation techniques, and the resource consenting process with a clear understanding of our clients needs and methods to support the development of four new mineral sand and alluvial gold mining operations since 2020. In the last two years, we have had two of our projects successfully consented, with the remaining still in the pre-application development phase.
Our fieldwork work includes drilling and aquifer testing programmes and setting up surface and groundwater monitoring systems for baseline hydrological characterisation and operational effects monitoring. We couple this with hydrological modelling, water quality impact assessment, and robust water management system design to ensure potential impacts are identified and avoided, minimised, remedied, offset, or compensated in accordance with the effects management hierarchy.
