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Development of ecohydrological conceptual models and Impact Pathway Diagrams for the Braemar, Stuart Shelf and Northern Eyre regions.
Potential impact of mining on water and the environment
The decarbonisation of the global economy will require more minerals to be mined to satisfy the demand for iron, copper and other critical minerals. The Northern Eyre, Braemar and Stuart Shelf regions in the north of South Australia are rich in these commodities. We investigated potential impacts of mining on water and the environment to ensure sustainable development of these mineral resources.
South Australia’s Department of Environment and Water and Department of Energy and Mining funded this collaboration between CSIRO and Flinders University through the Goyder Institute for Water Research, with support from the South Australian Arid Lands and Eyre Peninsula Landscape Boards. This project is a pilot study to trial Ecohydrological Conceptual Models to inform Impact Pathway Diagrams to comprehensively and systematically identify hazards associated with different forms of mining. The output of the project focuses on cartoon-style diagrams and a series of short factsheets, to help with communication to a broad audience of proponents, regulators and other stakeholder.
Conceptual ecohydrological models
A conceptual ecohydrological model describes how the landscape works and what the role of water in the landscape is. We developed cartoon-style block diagrams for the Braemar, Stuart Shelf and Northern Eyre region, in which we integrated information on geology, hydrology, ecology, landuse and infrastructure. Each of these graphics includes a table summarising the key features.
For each region we also created a factsheet describing the current and expected resource development, the current climate and trends in climate. The main ecohydrological features in the landscape, such as springs, lakes and watercourses are discussed in individual factsheets.
Impact pathway diagrams
The project team systematically identified all the activities associated with different approaches to mining (open pit, underground and in-situ recovery) and different stages of mining (exploration, production, post-mining). Those activities can be sources of stress on water and the environment. For instance, lowering the water table in the mine pit can lead to groundwater drawdown. These stressors are then linked to the receptors, the aspects of the environment we care about, such as springs and water courses.
We bring all these causal relationships, from activities to receptors, together in a network of impact pathways. Such a network allows to comprehensively identify and investigate potential hazards associated with mineral resource development. Factsheets accompany the causal network and expand on the knowledge base for the causal relations and discuss materiality of a causal pathway (when does it matter?) and what can be done to mitigate the hazard.
Results
Find the compiled PDF report on this webpage and visit the CSIRO website below for the full dataset, report and factsheets.
Peeters, Luk; Holland, Kate; London, Angela; Pollino, Carmel; Shanafield, Margaret; Guan, Huade; Thomas, Haylee; Werner, Adrian; Solorzano-Rivas, Cristina; & Jazayeri, Amir (2024): Ecohydrological Conceptual Models and Impact Pathway Diagrams for the Braemar, Stuart Shelf and Northern Eyre. v2. CSIRO. Data Collection. https://doi.org/10.25919/g64s-9×54
