The company’s environmental manager, Brant Edwards, said the majority of the area is private land and will be returned to farmland with tree belts included for visual and noise reduction benefits.

“Griffin is currently working to reshape the slopes and topsoil return will commence shortly.

“The plan is to undertake progressive rehabilitation as areas have been mined to completion, backfilled and then re-contoured,” said Mr Edwards.

“Taking Ewington I as an example, there may be a substantial area currently under development, however, it is only this year that suitable areas have become available for rehabilitation as mining and backfilling takes quite some time.

“Next year we plan to complete the majority of the remaining perimeter noise bund as the southern sections are nearing final height.”

Mr Edwards said that in the following year, areas behind the noise bund will be re-established and from there rehabilitation should keep pace with mine advancement.

“Ewington II cannot commence at this stage as the spoils and the mine plan have not advanced far enough to reach final landform and Muja mine rehabilitation cannot be finalised at this stage as the long term mine plans for South Muja actually require the re-handling of existing waste dumps as the mine is deepened to its new proposed mining limits.”

Mr Edwards said the company’s rehabilitation is up to date and on target with the long-term mining strategies and rehabilitation plans currently being implemented.

Department of Environment and Conservation district manager Drew Griffiths said that just before Christmas the Collie Coal Mines Environmental Committee (industry and resources, environment and conservation, water and agriculture department representatives) met Griffin’s environmental team, including chief executive officer Russell Conley.

This occurred during the annual inspection and audit under the Collie Coal (Griffin) Agreement Act 1978 and the mine’s environmental operating licence.