S1 Senior Consultant leads team to design environmentally attractive solution to coal seam gas mine water problem

The team assessed the suitability for tree growth of a range of sites on the CSM mine property. For each site of sufficient quality that acceptable tree growth could be expected, the team determined whether it was practical to deliver irrigation water to the site and, if so, the irrigation configuration that would be most effective from an engineering and economic perspective. Each site was then evaluated for the tree and shrub species most likely to grow successfully, including non-local indigenous species that may have been suitable for commercial timber production on the better sites. Establishment techniques and on-going management requirements were addressed.

For both potentially commercial species and species planted primarily for native forest cover and biodiversity enhancement, the rates of water usage, growth rates and carbon sequestration over time were calculated. For the potentially commercial species, timber production over time and local markets were assessed. Further, a harvesting and replanting program for these species was developed, to create an on-going carbon sequestration pool from which Kyoto-consistent carbon sequestration credits could potentially be generated. These calculations were used to generate a water usage budget over time (a key issue for the client), as well as carbon sequestration accounts for the entire planting program. The carbon accounts had the option to switch commercial production on or off depending on the client’s preference. 

Several companies are developing or seeking to develop CSM production facilities in the region in which the afore-mentioned mine is found. Consequently, a planting program that includes successful establishment and growth of vegetation communities that are considered rare and/or endangered in the region has the potential to be used as vegetation offsets. Where companies wish to develop mine facilities at specific locations that require the removal of rare and/or endangered vegetation, approval for removal may be granted where acceptable offsets exist. These offsets have value and can be traded, generating revenue for the owner of the offsets and thus potentially improving the economic returns from vegetation establishment.

For all of the potential scenarios around various types of tree and shrub planting and any future harvesting, cost and revenue analyses were also undertaken, as well as sensitivity analyses around these economic calculations.

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