CENTURY
TRANSITION (2) –
2013 REHAB
PROGRAM
TRANSITION SERIES
This is the second in the Transition Series, a
range of reference materials to help answer
your questions about the future of Century.
Topics will include transition planning, mine
closure, our 2013 land rehabilitation plan
and stakeholder engagement.
The series is just one part of our plan to
work more closely without stakeholders as
we transition into the next phase of
Century’s operations.
ABOUT REHABILITATION
The Century mine lease covers about 23,250 hectares, of which about 2,530 hectares has been disturbed by
mining-related activities.
As well as being the right thing to do, MMG operates under certain environmental conditions which require us to
progressively rehabilitate disturbed areas. Therefore, while MMG is continuing to investigate options to extend
operations, the Century open pit will still need to be ‘closed’ when production from this source ends in about 2016.
The aim of rehabilitation to create stable landforms with self-sustaining native vegetation covers. MMG’s ultimate
goal is to return the site to its pre-mining usage – low intensity cattle grazing and native habitat.
2013 REHABILITATION PROGRAM
Century will invest about $7 million in rehabilitation and related works in 2013.
Our 2013 rehabilitation program includes:

Rehabilitating areas disturbed by the construction of borrow pits, exploration tracks, exploration drill
pads and landfills;

Shaping slower slops on waste rock dumps to assist native vegetation to grow;

Constructing three trial covers on the operational tailings storage facility;

Constructing permanent drainage features on a waste rock dump; and

Relocating the historic bulk sample waste rock dump (the historic tailings storage facility, constructed
for processing trials prior during mine development, was relocated in 2012).
Related works include technical studies on aspects such as long-term water management and revegetation
assessments.
Century Transition - 2013 land rehabilitation program
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Photo 1: Waste rock dumps at Century’s Lawn Hill site.
2012 REHABILITATION ACTIVITIES
In 2012, MMG undertook about $2 million of
rehabilitation and other works to prepare for the end
of Century open pit production – or “big zinc”.
While earthworks made up a large proportion of the
works, a number of technical studies and smaller
projects were also completed.
2012 achievements included:

$1.2 million project to move the historic bulk
tailings storage facility to the operational tailings
facility;

Collection of native seeds for revegetation
activities;

Use of a helicopter for aerial seeding of several
rehabilitated areas. This safest and most effective
way to disperse seeds for revegetation;

Development of landform visualisations to show
how the rehabilitated Century open pit is likely to
look five, ten and 20 years after the end of
production;

Finalising the site’s land rehabilitation plan;

Updating the site’s long-term ground water
model. Further work will be undertaken in this
area during 2013; and

Development of a Mine Closure Balanced
Scorecard Tool to help Century monitor progress
against plan. While the tool is only used
internally at present, we hope to involve external
stakeholders in the future.
Photo 2: The collection of native seeds for revegetation
activities is an intricate and lengthy process. MMG
supported several interested Waanyi people to learn
about the process in late 2012.
QUICK QUESTION: WHAT IS A WASTE
ROCK DUMP?
A waste rock dump is a landform built from material
removed so that ore can be accessed. It must be
constructed to ensure long-term sustainability. Once
a waste rock dump is complete, a cover system is
constructed to encapsulate mineralised waste (rock
ore that is not economic to process) and prevent
water seepage.
FIND OUT MORE

Speak to your Century Environment
Committee (CEC) representative – we
provide updates to members at each
meeting.

Check out other materials in the
Transition Series.

Contact our Community & Stakeholder
Partnerships team on 1800 098 721 or at
[email protected]

Visit www.mmg.com

Look out for notices of the next
community visit by Century
representatives. We advertise via our
mailing list and town noticeboards.
Photo 3: Native seeds being dispersed over a
rehabilitated area.
Century Transition - 2013 land rehabilitation program
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