Matthew NewtonNSW Department of Industry
Division of Resources & Energy Environmental Sustainability Unit 
Matthew has been the Assistant Director for Environmental Regulations and Standards since April 2016 and manages a team that is involved in the development of a number of government reform projects that are aimed at improving the environmental performance across the resources sector. Matthew commenced with the Department in the role of Principal Officer Rehabilitation Standards with the Division of Resources & Energy (DRE) in November 2013. Amongst the key functions that Matthew has been involved in includes the development and implementation of standards, guidelines, policies and procedures based on best practice to improve mining / exploration rehabilitation outcomes across the state of New South Wales (NSW).
Matthew has approximately 21 years of experience in environmental assessment and management and has been involved in a range of environmental projects relating to mining operations situated throughout NSW, Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia and the USA. Prior to DRE, Matthew has worked as a consultant as well as in site-based roles with a particular focus on rehabilitation and mine closure projects. A notable project has involved the development and implementation of a mine closure plan right through to completion, including government sign-off, of closure activities at Glencore’s New Wallsend No.2 Colliery in Newcastle. Based on his experience in closure and rehabilitation planning, Matthew has prepared mine closure and rehabilitation monitoring standards for key corporate clients to be applied across world-wide operations as well as detailed closure cost liability assessments. Matthew has also undertaken a number of audits focussing on rehabilitation quality; progress with meeting closure criteria; and integrating mine closure planning with day to day operational planning. A current initiative that Matthew is leading with the Department is the development of the Rehabilitation Regulatory Reform Project. This project aims to build upon and improve the Department’s current regulatory regime by:
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Conference Speakers
Thursday: Friday: |
Abstract
DRE’s Rehabilitation Regulatory Reform Project.
The Division of Resources & Energy (DRE) is responsible for facilitating sustainable resources development for New South Wales. DRE’s role under both the Mining Act 1992 and Petroleum (Onshore) Act 1991, extends throughout the lifecycle of a mining or petroleum project from exploration through to the operational and closure phases.
The implementation of best-practice mine site rehabilitation is critical to ensuring NSW has a sustainable minerals industry. The aim of regulating mine rehabilitation is for land, affected by mining activities, to be returned to a condition at least as good or better as before any disturbance. As the lead regulator for mine rehabilitation, DRE will ensure rehabilitation is an ongoing priority for operators, after project approvals are issued and throughout the life cycle of the project.
As discussed at the 2016 Rehabilitation Conference, DRE is reforming its regulatory principles by adopting a risk-based and outcomes focussed model which will allow for:
DRE’s presentation will focus on the core elements of the regulatory reform project, which pending the outcomes of stakeholder consultation, it will aim to implement during 2017.
DRE’s Rehabilitation Regulatory Reform Project.
The Division of Resources & Energy (DRE) is responsible for facilitating sustainable resources development for New South Wales. DRE’s role under both the Mining Act 1992 and Petroleum (Onshore) Act 1991, extends throughout the lifecycle of a mining or petroleum project from exploration through to the operational and closure phases.
The implementation of best-practice mine site rehabilitation is critical to ensuring NSW has a sustainable minerals industry. The aim of regulating mine rehabilitation is for land, affected by mining activities, to be returned to a condition at least as good or better as before any disturbance. As the lead regulator for mine rehabilitation, DRE will ensure rehabilitation is an ongoing priority for operators, after project approvals are issued and throughout the life cycle of the project.
As discussed at the 2016 Rehabilitation Conference, DRE is reforming its regulatory principles by adopting a risk-based and outcomes focussed model which will allow for:
- DRE resources allocated to activities that pose the greatest risk to regulatory outcomes;
- increased focus on risk-control effectiveness as a means to drive better rehabilitation outcomes, prevent rehabilitation failure as well as promote industry education and compliance;
- better transparency in regards to rehabilitation progress, including the introduction of a spatial data portal for industry to submit actual and forecast rehabilitation plans to the Department;
- introduction of rehabilitation key performance indicators;
- industry innovation to achieve best practice rehabilitation outcomes;
- trust to be restored from the community in the mining and petroleum industry as well as government; and
- industry social licence to operate.
DRE’s presentation will focus on the core elements of the regulatory reform project, which pending the outcomes of stakeholder consultation, it will aim to implement during 2017.
Presentation
DRE’s Rehabilitation Regulatory Reform Project.
Presented on 30th March 2017 at the 7th Annual Best Practice Ecological Rehabilitation of Mined Lands Conference (2017)
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Panel Discussion for Mine Rehab Conference 2017
Pathways to relinquishment and opportunities to transition to productive alternate land uses.
The purpose of this panel discussion is to explore the frameworks and pathways which could facilitate transition of mine sites to alternative productive land uses that are acceptable to regulators, valued by the community and provide a more certain route to relinquishment for mining companies. The intent of the discussion is to develop recommendations for improved relinquishment and land use transition processes which will be taken forward by the Tom Farrell Institute for further discussion with interested parties.
Pathways to relinquishment and opportunities to transition to productive alternate land uses.
The purpose of this panel discussion is to explore the frameworks and pathways which could facilitate transition of mine sites to alternative productive land uses that are acceptable to regulators, valued by the community and provide a more certain route to relinquishment for mining companies. The intent of the discussion is to develop recommendations for improved relinquishment and land use transition processes which will be taken forward by the Tom Farrell Institute for further discussion with interested parties.
