Environmental Rehabilitation Program Overview

Document Version: 3.2
Last Updated: March 2024
Owner: Dr. Ravi Mehta, GM Sustainability & Environment
Review Date: September 2024

Executive Summary

IronVale Resources maintains comprehensive environmental rehabilitation programs across all operational sites, with total rehabilitation commitments of $47.3 million over the next 15 years. This document provides an overview of our current rehabilitation activities, methodologies, community engagement protocols, and progress against regulatory requirements.

As of March 2024, we have successfully completed rehabilitation across 340 hectares of previously disturbed land, with an additional 180 hectares currently under active rehabilitation. The expansion into lithium operations at our Goldfields project introduces new rehabilitation challenges and opportunities, requiring adaptive management approaches and enhanced stakeholder consultation.

Regulatory Framework & Commitments

Current Approvals

Pilbara East Iron Ore Mine - Mining Proposal MP-2019-087 (approved July 2021) - Mine Closure Plan submitted January 2023, approved with conditions - Total disturbance footprint: 2,847 hectares - Approved rehabilitation timeline: 12 years post-closure

Pilbara West Operations - Mining Proposal MP-2016-043 (renewal pending) - Progressive rehabilitation requirement: minimum 50 hectares annually - Current rehabilitation bond: $8.2 million

Goldfields Lithium Project - Environmental approval EP-2023-156 (conditional approval received February 2024) - Rehabilitation security: $12.8 million (staged release model) - Integration with existing granite quarry rehabilitation required

Regulatory Obligations

Under the Mining Act 1978 and Environmental Protection Act 1986, IronVale must demonstrate: - Progressive rehabilitation during operations - Post-mining land use capability restoration - Ecosystem function restoration where feasible - Long-term geochemical stability - Community and Traditional Owner consultation

Note: The new DMIRS guidelines effective January 2024 have introduced additional reporting requirements for rehabilitation success metrics. Dr. Mehta's team is currently updating our monitoring protocols to ensure compliance.

Rehabilitation Methodologies

Landform Design & Reconstruction

Waste Rock Management Our approach prioritizes geochemical stability and long-term drainage management. At Pilbara East, we've implemented a novel "walk-up" design for waste rock dumps, reducing final gradients from 18° to 12° and incorporating drainage controls every 50 meters of vertical height.

Key design principles: - Maximum 3:1 (H:V) final slopes for long-term stability - Engineered drainage systems with 1:100 year flood capacity - Strategic placement of potentially acid-forming materials - Integration of rocky outcrops to provide fauna habitat

Topsoil Management Direct return methodology is preferred where operationally feasible. At Pilbara West, we maintain an average topsoil stockpile volume of 45,000 cubic meters, with documented viability testing every 6 months.

Recent trials with mycorrhizal inoculation have shown 23% improved seedling establishment rates compared to standard topsoil application. Brooke Lawson's team has been working with Curtin University to optimize application rates across different soil types.

Revegetation Programs

Species Selection Working closely with Traditional Owners, we prioritize native species with demonstrated local provenance. Our seed collection program, managed in partnership with the Yurrampi Rangers, has established collection protocols for 47 indigenous plant species.

Priority species by habitat type: - Rocky hillslopes: Acacia ancistrocarpa, Senna artemisioides, Eremophila forrestii - Clay flats: Maireana pyramidata, Atriplex bunburyana, Cratystylis conocephala
- Drainage lines: Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Melaleuca argentea, Acacia coriacea

Establishment Techniques - Direct seeding (primary method): 15kg/ha mixed native seed - Tube stock plantings: targeted areas requiring rapid establishment - Natural regeneration monitoring: minimum 3-year observation period

Current success rates average 67% establishment across all sites, though this varies significantly by season and location. The 2023 La Niña conditions resulted in exceptional germination rates of >85% across rehabilitation areas.

Water Management & Geochemistry

Acid Mine Drainage Prevention Our predictive geochemical modeling, conducted by external consultant GeoStrata, identifies all potentially acid-forming (PAF) materials during mine planning phases. PAF materials are encapsulated using a three-layer barrier system:

0.5m low-permeability clay layer
Geosynthetic liner (where required)
1.0m oxidized waste rock cover

Water Quality Monitoring Quarterly monitoring at 23 established bore locations tracks: - pH, electrical conductivity, dissolved metals - Sulfate concentrations and trends - Groundwater elevation changes

Recent results show stable pH levels (6.8-7.4) across all monitoring locations, with only minor seasonal variations. The one exception remains bore PW-07 downstream of the old workshop area, which continues to show elevated hydrocarbon readings despite remediation efforts completed in 2022.

Current Progress & Performance

Rehabilitation Metrics (as of March 2024)

Site	Area Disturbed (ha)	Area Rehabilitated (ha)	Success Rate (%)	Outstanding Bond ($M)
Pilbara East	1,247	156	72%	3.8
Pilbara West	1,600	184	61%	4.4
Goldfields	89	0	N/A	12.8

Key Performance Indicators - Vegetation establishment target: >65% (achieved: 67%) - Erosion control: <10cm annual soil loss (achieved: 3-7cm range) - Species diversity: >80% of reference site (achieved: 74% average)

Pete Drummond has consistently noted that equipment access for rehabilitation works remains challenging during wet seasons, impacting our ability to meet progressive rehabilitation targets at Pilbara East. The autonomous haulage trial has actually helped here, with reduced traffic allowing earlier access to completed areas.

Community & Traditional Owner Engagement

Yurrampi Traditional Owners Partnership Our ongoing agreement with the Yurrampi Traditional Owners, renewed in September 2023, includes: - Joint rehabilitation planning and cultural site protection - Traditional ecological knowledge integration - Employment opportunities in seed collection and monitoring - Revenue sharing from successful rehabilitation outcomes

Danielle Keenan coordinates monthly on-country meetings with Traditional Owner representatives. The March 2024 session identified three additional culturally significant plant species for inclusion in our revegetation program.

Community Advisory Committee Quarterly meetings with local pastoralists, Traditional Owners, and Shire representatives provide input on: - Post-mining land use planning - Rehabilitation success criteria - Community access and safety considerations

Recent feedback has emphasized the importance of maintaining stock routes across rehabilitated areas and ensuring water point access for pastoral operations.

Financial Management & Provisioning

Current Rehabilitation Provisions

Total rehabilitation provision as of December 2023: $28.4 million - Pilbara East: $12.7 million - Pilbara West: $8.9 million
- Goldfields: $6.8 million

Annual provision adjustments account for: - Inflation impacts on contractor rates (averaging 4.2% annually) - Regulatory requirement changes - Rehabilitation method improvements - Extended monitoring obligations

Tom Gallagher's team conducts annual reviews of rehabilitation cost estimates using independent quantity surveying. The 2024 review resulted in a $1.8 million increase to total provisions, primarily driven by extended monitoring requirements under the new DMIRS guidelines.

Rehabilitation Bonds & Securities

Current securities with DMIRS total $21.0 million across all sites. The staged release model at Goldfields allows for progressive bond reductions based on demonstrated rehabilitation success: - Stage 1: 25% release after initial establishment (2 years) - Stage 2: 50% release after vegetation maturity (5 years) - Stage 3: 75% release after ecosystem function demonstration (10 years) - Final release: After 15-year monitoring period completion

Challenges & Adaptive Management

Technical Challenges

Lithium Processing Residues The Goldfields project introduces new rehabilitation challenges with lithium processing tailings. Preliminary studies indicate elevated pH levels (9.2-9.8) requiring specialized revegetation approaches. Dr. Mehta's team is collaborating with CSIRO on alkaline-tolerant species trials.

Climate Variability Increasing rainfall variability impacts rehabilitation timing and success rates. We've implemented adaptive seeding schedules based on Bureau of Meteorology seasonal forecasting, though this requires flexibility in contractor scheduling that increases costs by approximately 8%.

Workforce & Skills Development

Integration of rehabilitation works with autonomous mining operations requires new protocols and training. Our rehabilitation crews now receive basic training on autonomous vehicle interaction, while technology teams gain understanding of rehabilitation access requirements.

Brooke Lawson has developed a cross-training program allowing operations staff to support rehabilitation activities during seasonal windows, improving resource utilization and building broader environmental awareness.

Innovation & Research Partnerships

Current Research Projects

Curtin University Collaboration - Mycorrhizal inoculation optimization (2023-2025) - Drought tolerance screening of local provenance seed (ongoing) - Remote sensing for rehabilitation monitoring (pilot phase)

CSIRO Partnership - Alkaline tailings revegetation (2024-2026) - Carbon sequestration potential assessment - Autonomous drone monitoring trials

Preliminary results from the drone monitoring trials show 40% reduction in manual monitoring costs while improving data quality and safety outcomes.

Future Directions & 2024-2026 Priorities

Immediate Actions (2024)

Goldfields Baseline Establishment: Complete pre-mining ecological surveys and establish reference sites
Technology Integration: Expand drone monitoring across all sites
Training Program Enhancement: Develop specialized lithium rehabilitation modules
Community Consultation: Finalize post-mining land use agreements for Goldfields

Medium-term Objectives (2025-2026)

Rehabilitation Innovation: Pilot advanced soil amendment techniques
Monitoring Optimization: Implement predictive analytics for early intervention
Partnership Expansion: Develop research collaborations with international lithium rehabilitation experts
Carbon Offset Opportunities: Investigate rehabilitation-based carbon credit potential

Success Measurement

Key performance indicators for the 2024-2026 period: - Maintain >65% vegetation establishment across all sites - Reduce rehabilitation costs per hectare by 15% through innovation - Achieve 90% stakeholder satisfaction in community consultation surveys - Complete Pilbara West closure planning by end 2025

Note: This document reflects current understanding and commitments as of March 2024. Ongoing regulatory changes and operational adjustments may require updates to methodologies and timelines. For the most current rehabilitation status, consult the monthly rehabilitation progress reports maintained by Dr. Mehta's team.

Contact Information:
Dr. Ravi Mehta - General Manager, Sustainability & Environment
Phone: (08) 9421 7834
Email: r.mehta@ironvale.com.au