Rehabilitation programme for the Mary Kathleen uranium mine

The Mary Kathleen uranium deposit was located in the North Western region of the State of Queensland, Australia. It was discovered in 1954 and was mined in two phases for a total of twelve years between 1958 and 1982. In October 1982 operations at the site ceased with the deposit virtually exhausted and all contractural commitments completed. Prior to the closure a detailed Rehabilitation Plan was developed with the assistance of local and international consultants. The Queensland Department of Mines is the regulatory authority for the State Government and was consulted closely on the Plan. In May 1982, six months before closure, the Rehabilitation Plan was presented to the Department of Mines, who sought the views of other Government Departments having expertise or interest in specific areas. The Plan was subsequently approved. The Plan was based on three basic principles of: making all areas safe for public access; removing all structures which could deteriorate and become unsightly or unsafe with time; and encouraging natural revegetation on erosion resistant surfaces. The aim was to leave the site in a safe and satisfactory condition, consistent with future land use in the area, requiring no foreseeable ongoing maintenance and a minimum of precautionary monitoring. When the programme has been completed, the only constraint on future land use will be the need to control building construction in the tailings/evaporation, dumps and mine areas as a precaution against possible exposure to radon daughters. From the outset, a site-specific approach was adopted in developing the Plan. Experience at other sites was evaluated but was adopted only if it was appropriate for Mary Kathleen. As a result of this approach a conceptual solution was established for each area within the site. Each solution was then used as the basis for detailed planning for rehabilitation of that area