Environmental Earth Sciences was engaged to conduct a soil & land suitability assessment and a Strategic Cropping Land (SCL) assessment at a proposed coal mine in QLD.
THE SOLUTION
The works included a desktop assessment of cropping history and landscape units across the site followed by field validation, which involved a soil and landscape survey, subsurface investigations and chemical and physical analysis of soil samples.
The project assessed soil types across the site and focused on factors affecting development of mine infrastructure including top soil depth and erosion potential. The assessment also determined whether soils at the site met SCL criteria.
THE BENEFITS
The assessment carried out by Environmental Earth Sciences facilitated the planning approval for the development of the mine. By ensuring adherence to the SCL guidelines and legislation, Environmental Earth Sciences also assisted the client in achieving best practice with regard to maintaining soil quality and agricultural suitability during operations and post closure of the mine site.
