Cameron, Kirsty (2010) Technical feasibility of a salinity trading scheme for the licensing of coal mine discharges in the Fitzroy Basin. [USQ Project]
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Abstract
[Abstract]: Over forty coal mines of the Bowen Basin are located within the Fitzroy River catchment (Fitzroy Basin). Considerable growth of coal mining operations is occurring and expected to continue with development of new mines and expansion of existing mines. With this growth, water management within coal mining operations, and specifically mine water discharges from coal mines, is one the significant environmental risks of concern to government regulatory agencies, the community and the mining industry. Mine water discharges in the Fitzroy Basin are licensed and regulated; however, there has been recent concern with the
effectiveness of the system.
Market based instruments (MBIs) are increasingly being utilised in the realm of environmental pollution and it is considered here as an alternative form of regulation for the coal mines of the Fitzroy Basin. While there are many studies researching the political and economic factors that contribute to the success of these instruments, this project seeks to determine the feasibility of adopting a particular MBI known as a salinity trading scheme, in relation to technical features of the catchment.
Through research of an operational salinity trading scheme known as the Hunter River Salinity Trading Scheme, in NSW Australia, physical and technical properties were identified that may contribute to the success of a salinity trading scheme. These features, which include properties of the river system, landuse, monitoring network, climate and hydrology, are compared qualitatively between the catchments. Further analysis of the available stream flow monitoring data was also conducted to investigate the ability of the river system to assimilate salt loads in the form of mine water discharges. Conclusions on the technical feasibility are based upon this analysis.
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| Item Type: | USQ Project |
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| Refereed: | No |
| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Historic - Faculty of Engineering and Surveying - Department of Agricultural, Civil and Environmental Engineering (Up to 30 Jun 2013) |
| Supervisors: | Worden, John |
| Date Deposited: | 22 Feb 2011 02:38 |
| Last Modified: | 03 Jul 2013 00:30 |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Fitzroy Basin; Fitzroy River; Queensland; coal; coal mines; water quality; salinity |
| Fields of Research (2008): | 09 Engineering > 0907 Environmental Engineering > 090702 Environmental Engineering Modelling |
| Fields of Research (2020): | 40 ENGINEERING > 4011 Environmental engineering > 401199 Environmental engineering not elsewhere classified |
| URI: | https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/18412 |
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