In what has been described as “a major step towards environmental transparency,” spatial data on mine rehabilitation and post-mining land use has been made publicly available for the first time on the NSW Government’s central resource for Sharing and Enabling Environmental Data (SEED).

The data comprises information submitted by operators of large mines in NSW to the Resources Regulator as part of compliance activities, and shows ongoing rehabilitation activities and environmental progress.

According to SEED, “The mine rehabilitation dataset provides information on where mining operations in NSW have been conducted and are forecast to conduct ground disturbance and rehabilitation activities, as well as the final land use and landform following the completion of mining and rehabilitation activities”.

“This information is created and submitted by each large mine operator to fulfil spatial data submission requirements required under Schedule 8A of the Mining Regulation 2016.”

Established in 2016, SEED serves as the central resource for essential environmental data in NSW.