FACT SHEET Land and Property

Transcription

1 FACT SHEET Land and Property Introduction Glencore Coal Assets Australia (GCAA) is part of the broader Glencore group, one of the world s largest global diversified natural resource companies. GCAA is headquartered near Singleton in the Hunter Valley, NSW and operates a mixture of open cut and underground coal mines across NSW and QLD and has further interests in projects at various stages of development across both states. GCAA owns or leases a diverse portfolio of land associated with its operations and projects, spanning the Lower and Upper Hunter Valley, Mudgee, Lithgow and Tahmoor areas in NSW and Wandoan, Rolleston, Togara, Tieri, Clermont, Glendon and Collinsville areas in QLD. Our total area of land is just under 362,000 hectares (ha), comprising about 62,000 ha of land in NSW and 300,000 ha in QLD. Ownership includes Freehold title and various forms of State Leasehold tenure, with lease of State Land comprising the majority of tenure in QLD. We understand our responsibility to manage our land in a productive and sustainable manner. Biodiversity and Land Management Plans are required at all of our operations to guide the management of our land. As a minimum, the Plans include measures relating to conservation of flora and fauna, weed and pest control, fire management and grazing management. What is our land used for? In order to undertake open cut and underground mining and build associated surface facilities and infrastructure, we require access to land. In most cases land required for mining purposes is purchased by GCAA, however in some cases land is leased for this purpose. Other areas around our mining operations may be purchased as a result of mining impacts (e.g. noise, dust, blasting or subsidence) to provide a buffer around active operations or to facilitate future mining. As shown in the pie chart, most of our land is used for purposes other than mining, with the dominant use being agriculture. Other uses include biodiversity, residential tenancy, cultural heritage conservation and mixture of alternative uses (shown as Other ). 6% Total Agricultural Land (includes grazing, cropping and vineyards) 285,314 ha 79% 3% 7% 5% Other Managed Lands (21,609 ha) Mine Rehabilitation (11,542 ha) Active Mining Land (24,423 ha) Biodiversity Conservation (19,038 ha)

2 FACT SHEET Land and Property What is our land used for? Mining Land As at the start of 2017, under 7% of the total area of land that we own or lease across NSW and QLD is being used for active open cut or underground mining or mining related infrastructure such as roads, conveyor belts, gas drainage or water management facilities. Mining land excludes disturbed land that has been rehabilitated to an agreed use. In NSW, only 22% of our land has been disturbed by mining to date, whilst in QLD under 8% of our land has been disturbed by mining. Accounting for progressive rehabilitation of disturbed areas, the area of land currently used for mining (active mining) is approximately 14% of the total land area in NSW and 5% in QLD. Mine Rehabilitation We are committed to rehabilitating and restoring the land progressively during the mine life as well as when our mining activities have ceased. We aim to return the land to either self-sustaining native ecosystems, agricultural use or other suitable purposes that meet the requirements set down by government and the expectations of our communities. Up to 1 January 2017, over 11,500 ha of mined land has been rehabilitated across our mining operations, comprising approximately 4,740 ha in NSW and 6,800 ha in QLD. Planning for rehabilitation commences before we start mining and our mine closure planning process considers economic, social and environmental factors to provide for a balanced and sustainable outcome. All of our sites are required to develop, implement and maintain a conceptual mine closure plan, which is reviewed annually. Each GCAA site also prepares an annual rehabilitation and land management plan (ARLMP) as part of our budget cycle to provide for effective planning, resourcing and delivery of rehabilitation programs. These ARLMP s go beyond any mandatory requirements at each mine and have led to an improved focus on rehabilitation across our business since their implementation in Clockwise from top left, rehabilitation at Glendell mine (NSW), Mt Owen (NSW), Rolleston (Qld) and Newlands (Qld).

3 Agricultural Land Our land is managed for various agricultural uses, including cropping, beef production and the production of quality wines (vineyards). Over 285,000 ha of our total managed land area (79%) is used for agriculture, with cattle grazing on improved and native pastures being the dominant form of agricultural use. This includes about 28,000 ha in NSW and 257,000 ha in QLD. Beef Production A large portion of our agricultural land is occupied by Colinta Holdings Pty Limited (Colinta). Colinta is a wholly owned subsidiary of GCAA. Colinta s overall objective is to manage a viable and sustainable beef cattle operation across our agricultural landholdings. Their operations span across much of Glencore s land surrounding the mining company s operations in NSW, QLD and the Northern Territory. Depending on market and seasonal conditions, Colinta maintain between 40,000 and 50,000 head of cattle across its Australian operations at any one time, with around 5,000 in NSW and the balance across QLD and the NT. In NSW Colinta sells predominately fat cattle finished on irrigated pastures or oats (grown on our better quality agricultural lands). Cattle are sold to targeted markets such as direct to the trade (butchers), or otherwise direct to feedlots or to other cattle finishers/fatteners. Subject to seasonal conditions, in QLD cattle are sold direct to meatworks or through the saleyard system to fatteners/feedlot buyers. To support Colinta s livestock and farming interests, Colinta employ locally based people and source a significant volume of agricultural and other goods and services from towns surrounding our operations. Surplus agricultural land not occupied by Colinta is licensed to neighbouring landholders or the general public, principally for cattle grazing and dryland cropping. This includes substantial landholdings owned by GCAA at Wandoan, Togara, Clermont and Tieri in QLD. Case Study: Bobadeen Irrigation Scheme The Bobadeen Irrigation Scheme at Ulan was established in 2003 at a cost of $7 million as a solution to a long-standing surplus saline mine water management issue at GCAA s Ulan Mine near Mudgee in NSW. Excess water from mining areas is pumped to five centre-pivot irrigators, which irrigate a combined area of 242 ha of land planted with perennial pastures. The pastures are grazed by beef cattle owned by Colinta under a rotational system, with an average weight gain of over one kilogram per day. An extensive monitoring program has been established that allows Ulan Coal Mines to closely manage the impact of irrigation on the environment.

4 Fact Sheet - Land and Property Vineyards GCAA owns a number of vineyards in the Broke/Fordwich area of the Hunter Valley, NSW. The vineyards are operated by experienced local vignerons who lease our vineyards. Just under 100 ha of vines are maintained, producing Verdelho, Chardonnay, Semillon and Shiraz grapes. The produce is incorporated into the production of quality wine. Case Study: Mining beneath Vineyards in the Broke/Fordwich area In the Broke/Fordwich wine growing region, Hunter Valley NSW, GCAA has demonstrated that mining can co-exist with other agricultural industries. GCAA successfully mined beneath active vineyards in this region between 2004 and Extensive monitoring was conducted before, during and after underground mining to quantify impacts on vineyards. Results showed only a temporary reduction in vineyard yields on small sections of vineyards and no obvious impacts to vine health or fruit quality as the result of subsidence. Biodiversity Conservation We recognise that we have a large geographical footprint and some of our mining operations are located in sensitive environmental areas. We are committed to minimising our impacts on biodiversity and avoiding the loss of any threatened species as a result of our operations. One such way to mitigate our impacts on biodiversity, where such impacts are unavoidable, is through the establishment of biodiversity offsets. Biodiversity offsets typically include a commitment to manage or enhance existing native vegetation, re-establish (plant) native vegetation/habitat and rehabilitate mine land to desired native communities. Offsets can also include non land based measures (e.g. contribution to conservation research or species recovery plans). To provide for the long-term security of offset areas, we are required to implement appropriate arrangements for the security of offset areas under our mining Approvals. At 1st January 2017 the area of our land managed for conservation (biodiversity offsets) in accordance with our various site mining approvals totals just over 19,000 ha, with 10,500 ha in NSW and 8,500 ha in QLD. This represents about 5% of our land. These areas protect a diverse range of threatened vegetation communities and plants as well as provide important habitat for threatened fauna. Plans are developed for all of our biodiversity management areas to help achieve desired biodiversity outcomes and allowing for the continuation of grazing and other existing agricultural activities, where possible. The Plan addresses both passive and active re-vegetation, weed and pest management, fire management, grazing management and a biodiversity monitoring program. Newlands Nature Refuge, Newlands Mine QLD Hillcrest Biodiversity Offset Area, Ravensworth NSW

5 Fact Sheet - Land and Property Cultural Heritage We carefully manage our land to ensure impacts on cultural heritage are minimised. A number of cultural heritage conservation areas have been established by GCAA. One example is the Yorks Creek Conservation Area which is the subject of a formal Voluntary Conservation Area (CA). The CA was the first conservation agreement in the Hunter Valley formalising the protection of significant Aboriginal sites. The area covers 28.5 hectares along Yorks Creek adjacent to our Mt Owen Mine in the Hunter Valley, and contains artefact scatters and open camps sites and hearths. The local Aboriginal Community has access to the vicinity, which provides a significant area where learning about Aboriginal culture can take place. Management of the Yorks Creek Conservation Area commenced in The area has been fenced off from grazing stock and soil conservation works and substantial tree planting has been undertaken to protect eroding areas. Native vegetation has been allowed to regenerate as a result of fencing off livestock and the implementation of a weed management program. Mt Owen has developed a Biodiversity and Land Management Plan, which incorporates the ongoing management of the Yorks Creek conservation area and surrounding buffer lands. Residential Tenancy Throughout our operational areas, suitable residences that we own are leased to the general public or our employees, where mining impacts are deemed acceptable (based on government criteria). In QLD, GCAA also manages the towns of Glenden and Tieri, which service our Newlands and Oaky Creek mines respectively. Most of our residential premises are located in rural or rural/residential areas surrounding our mining operations. Our rental properties are leased through local Real Estate Agents, ensuring the needs of occupants are met according to Residential Tenancy Legislation in each State. General demand for rental properties is high and the ongoing occupation of our residential properties helps to meet this demand. It also provides for general upkeep and maintenance to be carried out in a manner that preserves their existing condition, where possible, and assists with visual amenity. Other land uses Around 21,600 ha of our land is currently used for purposes other than mining, agriculture, conservation or residential tenancy. The majority of this area comprises rural land that is located within our mining leases (ML s) outside of the active mining footprint. Much of this land forms part of future mine plans. Its proximity to mining or mining related activities (e.g. gas drainage, access roads, and other infrastructure) or other constraints do not allow agriculture to be undertaken on these lands safely or efficiently. Land in this category also includes heavily timbered or steep Crown Land lease areas, land that is leased to other companies by GCAA for mining and the GCAA managed towns of Glenden and Tieri. Land Ownership and Use Area (ha) % of total GCAA Land Total active mining GCAA 24,423 7 Total active mining NSW 8,735 Total active mining QLD 15,687 Total mine rehabilitation GCAA 11,542 3 Total mine rehabilitation NSW 4,741 Total mine rehabilitation QLD 6,801 Total land managed for agriculture GCAA 285, Total land managed for agriculture NSW 27,656 Total land managed for agriculture QLD 257,658 Total land managed for biodiversity conservation GCAA 19,038 5 Total land managed for biodiversity conservation NSW 10,515 Total land managed for biodiversity conservation QLD 8,523 Total land managed for other uses GCAA 21,609 6 Total land ownership GCAA 361,926 Land ownership NSW 61,545 Land ownership QLD 300,381