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History
1963
Mining operations began at Jarrahdale Mine. The first mining areas were shallow quarries with just one operations building plus a crusher.
1966
Plantations of pines, cypress and eastern Australian eucalypts returned with minimal landscaping
1971-2
Development of ripping of mined areas to break up soil and fertiliser applied after plating. Del Park Mine established to supply the newly commissioned Pinjarra refinery.
1976
Rehabilitation plantations include simple understorey of Acacia species from broadcast seed.
1978
Double stripping and direct return of topsoil. Jarrah and other WA eucalypts introduced into tree mixes. Wagerup ERMP approved which included mining at Willowdale. MMPLG mine plan approvals process initiated.
1979
First formal rehabilitation prescription agreed with CALM
1984
Introduction of winged tine for deep ripping. Willowdale mine begins production to supply ore to the Wagerup Refinery.
1985
Rehabilitation understorey seed mixed more diverse with non-legume shrub and herb species.
1988
Eucalypts direct seeded in rehabilitation.
1989
Jarrah and marri the dominant eucalypt species directly seeded into rehabilitated areas.
1990
Alcoa’s mine rehabilitation recognised by the United Nations Environment Program and included on the Global 500 Roll of Honour.
1991
Understorey developed to include only indigenous, local species. Target of 80 per cent plant species richness set for mine rehabilitation.
1992
Marrinup Nursery Tissue Culture Laboratory started production of recalcitrant plants for mine rehabilitation and Dieback Resistant Jarrah
1993
Seed of eucalypts and understorey collected only from local provenances and used in mine rehabilitation. Waste minimisation strategy is implemented across the three mine sites.
1994
Vegetatively propagated understorey species planted in trials.
1995
Use of Predicted Species Index model for rehabilitation planning
1996
Seed of all smoke responsive species is smoke treated. Experiments showed that smoke treatment of topsoil was not necessary. Target of 100 per cent plant species richness is set for mine rehabilitation.
1997
Soil screening trials start and the benefits demonstrated. This removed gravel and concentrated the amount of seed in the soil to be used in rehabilitation of mined areas.
1998
Jarrahdale mine closure and final rehabilitation program begins. Planting recalcitrant species begins. Post – 1998 completion criteria agreed with MMPLG.
1999
Soil Screening implemented at Jarrahdale. Air seeder machine developed. Dieback Resistant jarrah seed orchards developed.
2000
Adjustments to eucalypt and legume seeding rates. 100 per cent forest plant species richness target reached. Orion facility established at Willowdale Mine incoporated some water harvested initiateves into site design.
2001
Soil fractionation trials start, this involves passing screening topsoil through an air stream to further concentrate seed. Screened soil from Huntly used at Jarrahdale which gave high botanical richess. Jarrahdale rehabilitation completed.
2002
Thinning and burning trials established. Pre – 1989 completion criteria agreed with MMPLG. Alcoa wins third Golden Gecko award from the WA State Government for environmental excellence.
2003
Maximum eucalypt target densities set. Alcoa receives model project award from Society for Ecological Restoration International for leadership in rehabilitation.
2004
New McCoy mine operations facility commissioned at Huntly Mine, incorporating water harvesting, treatment and recycling initiatives. Design of facility focussed on maximising environmental protection, increased safety and production efficiency.
2005
Multi-tine contour ripping and deep pre-ripping of pit floor implemented. Alcoa Marrinup nursery wins Australian Garden Industry State award for environmental excellence. Alcoa sets up trial with Simcoa to take excess wood residue from cleared areas. Alcoa receives the first certificate of acceptance from CALM for 975 ha of rehabilitation at Jarrahdale effecitively handing over the responsibility of the land back to CALM.
2007
Alcoa receives a Golden Gecko award for the decommissioning and rehabilitation of the Jarrahdale minesite. A special edition of the Society for Ecological Restoration International’s Restoration Ecology journal dedicated to Alcoa’s WA Mining operations is published.
2009
Alcoa's Marrinup Nursery received three accolades from the Nursery and Garden Industry of Western Australia (NGIWA), The awards were in the category of, Best Propagation, Best Community and Best Medium Production Nursery.
2010
Bill Knight, Alcoa Manager of Mines receives top honours at the 7th Annual Australian Mining Prospect Awards in Sydney, being awarded 'Mine Manager of the Year'. For consecutive years Alcoa's Marrinup Nursery receives triple accolades from the Nursery and Garden Industry of Western Australia (NGIWA) winning Best Propagation, Community and Training Awards. Alcoa's fauna ecologist began trials to erect locally sourced artificial black cockatoo nests (Cockatubes), these were placed in the forests adjacent huntly mining operations - 10 nests were placed throughout the year and monitoring is ongoing.
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