Outcome: 1. Environment	Question No:  60
Division/Agency:	Parks Australia Division
Topic:	Rehabilitation of mining leases on Christmas Island
Hansard Page ECITA:	57

Senator Siewert asked:
(a)	Have you reviewed the current areas you are rehabilitating against the criteria?
(b)	Has anybody audited those against the criteria?

Answer/s:
(a) 	Yes. Parks Australia implements and monitors the rehabilitation effort in accordance with the Christmas Island Minesite Rehabilitation Plans produced in 2000 by the Centre for Mined Land Rehabilitation (CMLR) at the University of Queensland. At the end of 2005/06, Parks Australia had rehabilitated 261 ha of mine-site using the criteria. 251 ha are progressing to original forest, and 10 ha require additional inputs. Additionally, Parks Australia has taken over 150 ha of earlier rehabilitation attempts, of which 130 ha require further inputs and 20 ha have failed.

(b) 	In February 2006 the CMLR was commissioned to review Parks Australia’s rehabilitation program. The report is due by the end of August 2006.