Some 80 years after the Thiess Brothers broke ground on open-cut operations at Muswellbrook coal mine in the Hunter Valley of New South Wales, Australia, Thiess Rehabilitation is making significant progress with technology-led post-mining land restoration works for the site’s current owner Idemitsu Australia.

Over the next 12 months, 156 ha of post-mining land will be restored, with the site returned to a mix of native ecosystems and improved pastures over 180 hectares.

Since mobilising to site in July 2023, Thiess Rehabilitation has safely and successfully deployed a dozer and excavator fleet to move 7.3 million cubic metres of mined earth, it says. It also celebrated 479 days reportable incident-free at the end of October 2024.

Other milestones include the completion of six blasts on the highwall to create a final landform that is sustainable and complements the landscapes of the surrounding region, the company noted. Civil works were progressively delivered on areas undergoing rehabilitation to support a post-mining landform that delivers both vegetation and pasture land uses. Over the next year, 2.8 km of rock-lined drains, 19 km of contour banks, and 16,000 t of compost spreading will be delivered.

Thiess Rehabilitation Group Manager, Jonathan Miln, said: “Given Thiess’ legacy at Muswellbrook Mine, Thiess Rehabilitation is pleased to be able to contribute to the successful rehabilitation of the Muswellbrook site and meet Idemitsu Australia’s approved mine rehabilitation objectives.”