Ensham Residual Void Project - closure by co-design
Ensham Mine (Idemitsu Australia Resources) · delivered with Umwelt
Emerald, Central Queensland, Australia
Ensham Mine, an open-cut and underground coal operation 35 km east of Emerald, needed to assess three residual void management options - landform development, flood mitigation, and backfilling - each with different implications for flooding, water quality, agriculture, post-mining land use, nearby landholders and long-term community risk. The challenge was not simply to communicate a preferred technical solution, but to establish a transparent process where community knowledge could genuinely influence option assessment and engineering design.
Led the Social Impact Assessment and social and community engagement work with Umwelt - preparing the social baseline, forecasting social change, assessing the impacts of each design option, developing management responses and preparing the Social Impact Management Plan. Also provided strategic advice on how the social and engagement process could improve the proposed options and build confidence in decision-making.
A co-design approach with landholders, Traditional Owners, government agencies, environmental organisations and other stakeholders. Evidence gathered through surveys, in-depth interviews with nearby landholders, focus groups with Traditional Owners and special-interest groups, and briefings with local, state and federal government. Project information was presented at the AgGrow agricultural exhibition in Emerald. Detailed mapping and interactive flyover visualisations for each option let stakeholders provide location-specific feedback that then refined engineering elements. The broader option assessment was subjected to triple-bottom-line review and independent peer review.
Local knowledge and community priorities genuinely influenced engineering and closure planning. Stakeholder feedback informed refinements to Options 1 and 2; the assessment supported progression of the flood-mitigation approach under Option 1 while preserving the potential to reconsider the beneficial-use option. Transparent engagement, design responsiveness and independent review strengthened trust and the mine's social licence.