Assessment of mining and property impacts at Broken Hill

Abstract

Worldwide, the shift to sustainable energy systems and increased demand for mined materials and refined metals amidst major security challenges have ensured that extracted minerals remain a vital source of wealth for resource-rich nations like Australia. While mining non-renewable resources can bring economic gains, it also has significant potential to disturb existing landforms and concentrate chemically toxic elements and compounds that are only naturally present on the earth’s surface in very low concentrations. Balancing the imperatives of economic development with the stewardship of environmental and social well-being remains a persistent challenge for miningdominated regions. In Australia, especially in states rich in mineral resources, the relationship between regulatory frameworks, community expectations, and industry practices has led to the development of sophisticated management and assessment systems. The ongoing effort to reduce negative impacts has fueled continual debates about the most effective ways to evaluate impacts. To manage both the wealth and the impacts generated by mining activities, developed nations have established complex systems that regulate and restrict the extent of impacts caused by mining, all in exchange for corporations holding rights to extract, refine, and sell mineral products. Jurisdictions in developed economies, with a separation of powers, also recognise the limitations imposed on mining through a collective body of case law. The process of awarding mining title rights is highly competitive, requiring an allocation and assessment process that emphasises minimising the impacts of mining before, during, and after operations cease. This thesis examines the topical issues of identifying, measuring, and managing mining impacts under a regime influenced by diverging interests, with a focus on a major mine site in NSW, Australia.

Date of Thesis submission	2025
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Western Sydney University
Supervisor	Graeme Newell (Supervisor) & Neil Perry (Supervisor)