The program, Koala Venture, is a joint effort between Rio Tinto and the University of Queensland. Researchers recently discovered the first koala to make its home on former coal mining land, Rio’s old Blair Athol mine.
The animal had been tracked in bushland adjacent to the mine near Clermont before moving to the rehabilitated area.
Rio spokesman Nathan Scholz told International Longwall News the discovery provided proof that former opencut coal mines could be used rehabilitated for native wildlife.
“What is unique about this is that it is the first time koalas have been found to have moved back into rehabilitated land,” Scholz said.
“What this really shows is that the area that has been part of an opencut coal mine, if we rehabilitate using the correct trees and methods, which we are doing, would be able to sustain a koala population after it is properly rehabilitated.
“This now proves the point as there was a question before if the koalas would go back to the mined area – now we know they will.”
The wandering koala was found inside the rehabilitated area during the researchers’ last field visit in June.
The UQ researchers work with Rio’s mine planners to ensure earmarked mining areas are cleared of koalas before tree clearing takes place.
They do this by selectively clearing trees with the researchers also tagging and tracking the koalas and marking trees which have koalas present.
The area where the koala was found was mined 12 years ago and following rehabilitation the trees are now at a size where they can hold and sustain koalas.
Rehabilitation involves restoring the land form and planting of the trees.
Researchers are saying the arrival of the first koala indicates the project will be successful as the key question of “would they move in?” has been answered.
They have told Rio that if the company continues to use the same rehabilitation methods when the entire mine closes, it is possible the whole site could become koala habitat again.
The research program was expanded last year to include Rio’s Clermont mine lease, which is adjacent to the Blair Athol mine.
The Koala Venture is Australia’s longest running study into the marsupial.
