Mining ERC calculator

Welcome to the training for the 2022 edition of the Estimated Rehabilitation Cost Calculator for mining. This training course will take you through all aspects of the Calculator. While these modules do go into some detail, they are generally designed to be an overview. So if at any time you need more information or specific instructions, please consult the User Guide, which is also available on the Business Queensland website below the download for the calculator. Let's get started.

Module one. This module will cover the purpose of the Calculator, some key definitions, and the major changes from the latest review. The Calculator was designed to provide a tool to calculate the Estimated Rehabilitation Cost as required by the Environmental Protection Act 1994. It allows a consistent yet generic approach to calculating the estimated rehabilitation cost for mining activities. It is also used by the Queensland Government to estimate the full cost to decommission, rehabilitate and close costing an operation.

Here are some key definitions to be aware of while using the tool. Please pause the video as required and carefully read through the definitions.

Throughout 2021 and 2022, the Calculator underwent a major revision with some key changes being made. All macros have been removed to improve functionality and stability. Several User Input Sheets have been added for the following activities: Water Storage; Water Treatment and Pumping; Ports; and Investigation Contamination.

The General Land Rehabilitation sheet is what used to be called 'Miscellaneous Activities', and is designed to collect activities that aren't included in other sheets. A Subrates and Capping Alert sheet has been added for reference. And the scope and key assumptions column in the Table of Values has been expanded to provide greater transparency for rate defaults and calculator assumptions.

A Waste Register has been added to itemised quantities multiplied by the Waste Levy. This will be covered in more detail in a later module. Rates have been reviewed, updated and made consistent across the mining and the petroleum and gas Calculators. Rates for dismantling drag lines were added and a medium risk, low permeability layer category was added to waste structures.

Welcome back to the training for the 2022 edition of the Estimated Rehabilitation Cost Calculator for mining.

Module 2. In this module we will cover how to prepare an Estimated Rehabilitation Cost.

To get started, go to the Business Queensland website and download the calculator.

You may be prompted to save this to a particular location, or it will appear down the bottom, depending on which browser you're using. Open the Calculator once it is downloaded and you will be taken to the Terms and Conditions of Use pages. By downloading the Calculator, the User agrees to the terms and conditions. Please read these carefully.

In the next tab you will find the Contents page. This tab will allow you to navigate around the Calculator and each subsequent sheet gives you the ability to come back to the Contents page.

The first tab required for starting a calculation is the Registration tab. Here you fill in some of the more general details for the mining activity. This includes: the EA number and holder; tenure IDs and site or project name; as well as the last ERC decision date and current ERC amount, which is used to calculate the difference between the total cost of this ERC and previous ERC amounts.

Further down, the User enters site details and contact information. Specifically the name and details of the assessor, who is the person preparing the Calculator and the name and details of the authorised person who is the person within your organisation who is authorised to submit this calculation to the government.

Below this is the selection of the Waste Levy. The User must select one of the options from the drop-down menu. The options are: Waste levy applies – metro zone or regional zone; waste levy does not apply because the site is not in a waste levy zone; or waste levy does not apply for another reason, in which case the User must add comments.

Once registration is complete, the User can work through the numbered User Input Sheets, entering all the details relevant for their mining activity. We will cover data entry into these sheets in later modules.

Once the data entry is complete, the user can return to the Summary tab to review the rolled-up totals. If site specific Project Management and or Environmental Maintenance and Monitoring values are justified, enter these into the cells in the Summary sheet and provide justification in the space provided. Again, these will be explained further in a later module.

Then at the end of all the sheets the user can review the Quantity Summary sheet. Filters can be used to reduce the number of rows visible.

As always, for more information or specific instructions, please consult the User Guide, which is also available on the Business Queensland website below the download for the Calculator. See you in the next module.

Welcome back to the training for the 2022 edition of the estimated rehabilitation cost calculator for mining. Module 3. This module will go over some general use concepts which are important to understand when using the calculator.

There are various ways quantities can be added to the user input sheet. However, quantities for a specific item only need to be added into one table. In most cases, the first option is the default rate table where the calculator uses the default rate as a simple cost per unit. For example, dollars per hectare for a waste rock dump. In this example, the calculator has made a number of assumptions and produced a rate that is reasonable to cover the cost to rehabilitate a waste rock dump. Some user input sheets have multiple default rate tables for the same category but allow for different units. For example, you can enter roads by length or by area in the corresponding default rate table. Each road only needs to be added to one or the other, not both.

Then there are user defined tables which allow the users the flexibility to change specific aspects of the calculation to ultimately create a cost specific to that item. Again, if you enter an item into the user defined table, you do not need to add it to the default rate table and vice versa. The default rates included in the calculator generally include all activities reasonably anticipated to be required for a particular activity. Specifically, decommissioning, demolition, removal, disposal and storage rehabilitation of land are all included unless otherwise stated.

Arid environments are now included in the calculator as an alternative to pasture or native. The rates for arid do not include growth media and seeding. Arid environments are desert, whereby vegetation is absent. For example, Southwest Qld.

While a lot of Excel functionality is locked to prevent changes being made to the format and layout of the calculator, the standard freeze panes function is accessible so the user is able to freeze or unfreeze columns and rows to assist with viewing and use.

The calculator is colour-coded to visually assist the user in identifying which cells are for user entered data and which cells are for reference, calculation, error, etc. The key to the colour code is located in the contents tab of the calculator and displayed here. Of note, the green and yellow cells are the only cells that will allow user entering.

Much of the data entry is quantity of different units. The unit of the quantity the user is required to enter can be found in the next column on the same row or in the title of the field. It is important to check the unit you are required to enter to avoid any miscalculations. The calculator includes numerous areas that allow the user to add comments. These are important in justifying to the department why you have chosen certain values, or why alternate rates have been entered. At the top of all user input sheets there is space available to enter any general comments about the items in that sheet that will help the department with their assessment. In the pits sheet, the user must describe how the pit area was calculated at the end of the first table. In the capping alerts sheet, the user must justify capping thicknesses less than the defaults, if used. In the registration sheet, the user must explain why the waste levy does not apply to that site, if this is selected. In the summary sheet, the user must explain why an alternate project management or maintenance and monitoring rate was used if entered.

And as mentioned earlier, the yellow cells allowed the user to enter an alternate rate as an alternative to the default rate. The calculator will check if an alternate rate has been entered and if so, use that in the calculations instead of the default rate. The cell will turn red to highlight to the department that an alternate rate has been used and to remind the user that a justification is required. If an alternate rate is entered, the user must provide a justification for this rate in the space provided at the end of the corresponding table.

The calculator uses hyperlinks throughout the workbook to allow for easy navigation between sheets. The contents page which we looked at earlier is a great place to start. As mentioned, all sheets have a hyperlink back to the contents page located at the top of the sheet. Sheets that require the user to Scroll down a long way have hyperlinks at the top of each table that will quickly return the user to the top of the sheet. Some sheets also have handy hyperlinks to jump to specific parts of the sheet. To search for something in the calculator, simply use Excel search function or control F to find specific words.

Some field headings throughout the calculator have additional popup text that displays when the cell is clicked on to help the user better understand what is required to be entered into that field. These cells are identified with an asterisk. Drop down menus feature throughout the calculator and are a quick, easy way of selecting options. Drop down menus are identified by the red text at the top of the column.

Each user input sheet includes a column on the left hand side of the table for each activity to allow the entry of a map ID. The map ID allows an entry which corresponds to a company specific GIS or other referencing system. A map ID must be entered where spatial data is provided which aligns with that line item of the calculator. Multiple map IDs can be entered, separated by commas, if there is more than one identifying code or number for a particular item.

Most user input tables allow space for additional user entered items that fit within the category of the table but are not otherwise included in the calculator. The user must enter the quantity, the units and the rate for the user entered item. The user must also include a description of the rate used in the justification for alternate rate space at the end of the table.

The mobilization and user sheet allows space for additional user entered items that do not fit anywhere else in the calculator. As these items will form part of the final cost, the user must enter the quantity, the units and the rate for the user entered item. The user must also include a description of the item in the comment space at the end of the table.

As always, for more information or specific instructions, please consult the user guide, which is also available on the business Queensland website below the download for the calculator. See you in the next module.

Welcome back to the training for the 2022 edition of the estimated rehabilitation cost calculator for mining.

Module 4. In this module we will go into a bit more detail about all of the sheets.

There are 15 user input sheets that allow user input for each of the domains as well as several other sheets summarising information, reporting errors, listing default values, or simply for reference or look up.

The user input sheets comprise of rolled up rates, which we've been referring to as defaults, in single line or user defined input tables that build up the activity to calculate the total cost of the element. All user input sheets are filled out from left to right and only information relevant to a particular element needs to be entered. Where defaults are listed and no information is entered by the user, the default value will be used in the calculation.

The structure of each input sheet is similar with header rows providing the domain name, a hyperlink back to contents, and the total cost for the individual sheet and the total ERC for the site. Each table then has its own header containing the field headings. Each sheet has a use and notes section at the top explaining what the sheet is for. Later we will look at some of these sheets in more detail in the worked examples, but for more information on each sheet please consult the user guide.

As always, for more information or specific instructions, please consult the user guide, which is also available on the business Queensland website below the download for the calculator. See you in the next module.

Welcome back to the training for the 2022 edition of the estimated rehabilitation cost calculator for mining.

Module 5. In this module we will focus on some particular items in more detail as they are important to understand while using the calculator.

Firstly, there are several multipliers that get applied to the total cost. These can be found in the summary sheet and were briefly mentioned in Module 2. The first is the project management multiplier, which is calculated at 10% of the total ERC amount. Generally, this covers the cost to government for the management and the rehabilitation activity, and includes things like planning and permits, procurement, stakeholder engagement and legal costs. The user can specify their own project management multiplier, and if so, must provide justification in the space provided and attach the relevant quotes to their ERC calculation. The environmental maintenance and monitoring multiplier is calculated at 5% of the total ERC amount. This covers post closure maintenance activities like minor repairs, revegetation, weed management, and fence and signage repairs. It also covers a wide range of post closure monitoring activities, which include inspections, assessments, surveys, and reporting. Again, the user can specify their own environmental maintenance and monitoring multiplier, and if so must provide justification in the space provided and attach the relevant quotes to their ERC application. The calculator also applies a contingency of 10% to account for general uncertainties in the cost estimation and recognise that assumptions are being made for the default rates.

The waste levy is a new addition in the 2022 version of the calculator, and it is designed to account for specific types of waste that go to landfill in Queensland. This levy only applies if your mining activity falls within one of the specified areas. For the ERC, concrete, bitumen, asbestos (free and within soil), solid salt and contaminated soil are the primary wastes to which the levy may apply. Steel, copper, and other metals are not considered a waste as they have value as scrap. Consistent with the policy decision on scrap, scrap value is not offset. The calculator does not charge a gate fee or levy on these materials but does allow for transport to a facility. We will go into more detail on the waste levy register as a worked example in a later module.

Capping is relevant for overburden dumps and waste rock dumps, heap leach pads and tailings storage facilities. Capping is the layers placed over the top of these items to make them safe and generally consist of a working rock layer, capillary break layer, a low permeability layer and growth media. The makeup and thickness of these layers is dependent on the risk category chosen by the user for that item. The user must provide notes for the rationale behind the risk category selected. For details on the characteristics of waste rock, heap leach and tailings for each category, please see the detailed descriptions in the user guide. The calculator allows the flexibility for the user to enter capping thicknesses less than the defaults. If this occurs, it will raise an alert in the capping alert sheet and the user must provide justification against this alert.

Revegetation is primarily broken into two categories with a third option for certain circumstances. They are Pasture, Native and Arid. The default rates throughout the calculator generally include the cost of seeding, so the user is not required to enter additional revegetation costs elsewhere. If seeding is not included, it is specifically stated in the rate scope. The General Land Rehabilitation sheet includes additional rows to cover revegetation of land not covered by other sheets. Such occurrences are likely rare and may include land where preliminary work like clearing for an activity was undertaken, but the activity did not go ahead.

The calculator applies a haulage rate in numerous locations throughout to take into account the transport of materials or decommissioned equipment. The default rates that include haulage, as described in their scope and assumptions, calculate the cost for transport for several material or item types and for both ways out and back. Where a distance selection is made, this distance is considered one way as the back-end calculations account for the return trip.

A range of fleet sizes is included in several input sheets to reflect the varying size of rehabilitation projects. The fleet size selected depends on the activity being undertaken and the quantity of material being moved. For more detail on the types of activities for different fleet sizes, please consult the user guide. Mobilisation of fleet is calculated based on a round trip or mobilisation and demobilisation. However, the distance the users select is the one way distance. The user must decide what is reasonably appropriate to this mining activity and choose a distance range and fleet size. For example, if the closest major centre where fleet would be sourced is 280 kilometres away, the user would select the 150 to 500 kilometre range. Then for each range there is a corresponding fleet size. If the total cost of the ERC is less than $1,000,000 then the small project mobilisation rate can be used by placing a 1 in the summary sheet.

As always, for more information or specific instructions, please consult the user guide, which is also available on the business Queensland website below the download for the calculator. See you in the next module.

Welcome back to the training for the 2022 edition of the estimated rehabilitation cost calculator for mining. This is Module 6. In this module we will work through examples for the eligible mining activities and exploration sheets.

As per the ERC guideline, certain resource activities are authorised with standard conditions if they satisfy the eligibility criteria for the relevant ERA standard under the Environmental Protection Act 1994. The relevant standards are prescribed under the Environmental Protection Regulation 2019. The eligible mining activity sheet can be used to calculate the ERC for an eligible mining activity on a mining lease only. As such, if the user's environmental authority was approved through a standard or variation EA application, and relates to mining lease activities, the user can choose to use the calculator and should enter all elements for the site in this sheet.

The eligible mining activity sheet is straightforward to use. Quantities added to the quantity column are multiplied by the default rate or an alternative rate if entered by the user. As for all the sheets, if an alternate rate is added, the user must provide justification. Please note the units for each of the line items. Some are dimension quantities, such as length and area, and others are item quantities, such as number of holes. At the bottom of the sheet, there are several rows available for the user to enter elements that are not included in the above line items. If a quantity is entered without a unit rate, an alert is raised. All the costs are summed up and reported to the summary sheet. One minor change from the previous revision of the calculator is that the rates do not include land rehabilitation, and these must be added to the seeding of past areas and seeding of native areas rows. The user adds up all the land that will require rehabilitation and enters the total quantities to these rows. The user is encouraged to explain the breakup of the entries. Land rehabilitation of drill holes has separate rows as the areas are typically small.

The exploration user input sheet includes tables for activities typical to the exploration phase of a mining project, including seismic surveys, drill holes, roads and tracks, small water structures and disturbances from contractor owned infrastructure and equipment such as camps and water treatment plants. Some users may only need to use this sheet to complete their ERC calculation. The first two tables are for seismic easements, gridlines, and minor tracks. The first has default rates based on the length of disturbance and the second is based on the area of disturbance. The general principle throughout the calculator is that if a quantity is entered into one table, it does not then need to be added into a second table. This is a good example of that concept in that the user does not have to enter quantities to both the by length and by area tables for the same disturbance. The inclusion of two tables, one by length and one by area, recognises that companies have data in different formats. Some maintain GIS systems that output area-based polygons and others may have lengths measured in the field. The user enters the total area or length of disturbance, and the default calculation multiplies the total disturbance area or length by the default proportion shown. This recognises that disturbances associated with such activities are typically minor. The user can also enter their own rehabilitation area or length if it can be justified. There are three options depending on the land type, pasture, native and arid, or desert land.

The next two tables are for tracks and roads. Similar to the seismic easement tables, the first has default rates based on the length of road with a default width and the second requires just the area disturbed by the track or road to be entered. For the by length table, it is not expected that the roads and tracks have exactly the width mentioned but should be close to. For example, if the average width of a track is five metres, the six-metre-wide selection should be used.

The next table has a selection of bores with several different treatments, including plugging, backfilling with cuttings, and grouting. The user selects the most applicable treatment based on their knowledge of the bores on the site and their experience. The last row of the default rates is exploration sump, which has a different unit to the bores.

The next table is for dams and ponds and includes a range of lined and unlined structures by size category. The area to be entered is the crest area of the water structure. Where multiple water structures fit in the same category, the user can enter the total area for all water structures of that category in the relevant row. So, for example, if a site has three lined four megalitre ponds, each of a crest area of one hectare, the entry is three hectares into the three point five to seven point five megalitre category. The default rate does not include any water to be pumped and or treated. If water is to be pumped or treated, it must be entered into the water treatment sheet.

The next table is for rehabilitation of land upon which third party plant and equipment are installed. The primary examples are camps owned by a contractor and water treatment plants owned by a vendor. The assumption in these cases is the contractor and vendor is responsible for costs associated with the removal of the infrastructure and plant, and the environmental authority holder is only responsible for costs associated with the land rehabilitation. Similar to the other sheets, the total costs for each table are summed and sent to the summary table to be added to the total estimated rehabilitation cost.

As always, for more information or specific instructions, please consult the user guide, which is also available on the business Queensland website below the download for the calculator. See you in the next module.

Welcome back to the training for the 2022 edition of the Estimated Rehabilitation Cost Calculator for mining. This is Module 7. In this module we will work through examples for the Infrastructure sheet and Process Equipment sheet.

The Infrastructure sheet includes several tables to account for costs associated with disconnection of services and decommissioning of camps, buildings and ancillary infrastructure, and the restoration of disturbances associated with tracks and roads, lay down areas and borrow pits.

This sheet is the longest in the workbook and has a set of hyperlinks at the top to quickly access each table. The tables then have a hyperlink that will take the User back to the top of the sheet. Most of the tables are simple to use, with entered quantities multiplied by either the Default Rate or an Alternate Rate entered by the User with justification.

The first table is for disconnection of services, which includes electrical power, gas, water and communications. The table has an entry for major suppliers to a site and a second row for other remote areas of the site with dedicated services.

The next two tables are for tracks and roads. The first has Default Rates based on the length of a road with a default width and the second requires just the area disturbed by the track or road to be entered. The general principles throughout the calculator is that if a quantity is entered into one table, it does not then need to be entered into a second table. This is a good example of that concept in that the user does not have to enter quantities to both the by length and by area tables for the same disturbance.

The inclusion of two tables, one by length and one by area, recognises that companies have data in different formats. Some maintain GIS systems that output area based polygons and others may have lengths measured in the field. For the by length tables, it is not expected that the roads and tracks have exactly the width mentioned, but should be close to. For example, if the average width of a track is five meters, the six meter wide selection should be used.

The next table allows the user to build their own road or track rate. As is typical for user build tables throughout the Calculator, the table starts with map ID and the name of the road or track. Groups of roads or tracks can be entered here, and if this is the case, the total length of all the roads must be entered. If a grouping is applied to a row, the road and track must have similar characteristics.

The first entry is the width of the road and a default is used if the user does not enter a width. The total length of the road or track or groups of roads and tracks is the key entry for this table. The next column allows the user to select the surface covering. The tracks and roads table in infrastructure have more options than those in exploration with default rates for tracks and roads covered with gravel, bitumen or waste rock, and for tracks and roads where the rock is removed with the assumption that it is contaminated and then replaced with clean rock to restore the road function.

The assumption with earthen tracks is that they only require ripping and revegetation if in pasture or native land. Earthen tracks in arid desert environments do not require growth media or seeding. For the purpose of the calculator gravel, rock and bitumen are treated in the same manner. The default assumption in this table is that surface covering is not replaced, however this can be set to 0 if the surface covering is to be replaced.

The next default is the thickness of the surface covering and the user can enter their own that will supersede the default. The volume of surface covering to remove is then calculated. The next section is used if the surface covering such as rock will be replaced. As an example, if a 10 kilometre gravel road will have the gravel removed because it is contaminated and then replaced with new, the user must enter 10 kilometres into this column.

The thickness of return rock uses a similar default method. The volume of rock to replace is calculated using either the defaults or the user entered values. For growth media and vegetation the default assumption is that the area is the total area of the road or track or group of roads or tracks, but the user can set this to 0 if, for example, the disturbance is in arid desert land.

The next section of the table works similar to all other tables in that the user can select the proportion of land that will be returned to pasture and native, or set both of those to 0 if the land is in the desert. If the total proportion of land allocated by the user does not equal 100%, an alert will be raised in this column.

The next section of the table is for fleet selection, with the first grouping being the distance to haul the material removed from the track or road, and the fleet size that will undertake the work. Keep in mind that anywhere there is a distant selection for fleet, it is for a one-way trip as the Calculator will calculate the return trip in the background. For example, if the distance to haul is 1.5 kilometres, the user would select the >1000 to <=1500 metre range.

The next fleet selection is for the distance that the surface cover material will be returned to recover the road, and the fleet size that will undertake the work. The final fleet selection is haulage of growth media, and the fleet size that will undertake that work. The selections of haulage distance and fleet sizes determine the unit rates in the next section and these rates are multiplied by the volume calculated in the earlier part of the table, to arrive at the total for each activity. The total of the activities are then summed to create a total for each row.

Above the table in this area are opportunities for the user to enter alternate rates for various activities if they can be justified. Justification for any alternate rates is entered into the justification for alternate rates column. The next table works similarly to the table just described, but the main input is the area of the road rather than the length and width. The next table is to account for costs associated with road and watercourse overpasses and is a simple enter the quantity approach.

The mine haul road set of tables works the same as the tracks and roads tables described previously, just with different assumptions. For example, a mine haul road is assumed to be much wider and have thicker surface covering than typical light vehicle access roads.

The lay down yard tables also work similarly to the tracks and roads tables. The first table is a default rate table where the user need only enter the area of the lay down or group of lay down areas, and the next table is a user build table which works similarly to the user build tables described previously.

The borrow pit table is a simple enter the area for each pit or group of pits in the different types of land. The next two tables are for pipelines not associated with plants and facilities. The general assumption is pipelines associated with processing facilities, for example, are included in those rates.

These pipeline tables are for pipelines that cannot reasonably be associated with a particular plant, for example, pipelines running from a pit to a processing plant. The user build table requires the length of pipe or group of pipes to be entered. The user then selects whether the pipe is to be flushed, whether each end will be cut and capped, and whether the pipe will be removed. The final part of the table is growth media and vegetation that works exactly the same as the other tables.

Two tables are available for camps. The first has default rates by size and type, that is temporary or permanent camp, and the second table by area. The by size category default rates include all the activities that can be reasonably associated with decommissioning and demolition of a camp and subsequent land rehabilitation. The camps do not include major refueling systems or land investigations, with the assumption that such activities are not always associated with camps. If these activities are associated with the camp, they must be entered separately.

The by area default rates for the camps account for typical infrastructure associated with the camp and an allowance for the vacant space between modules. Typically, it is reasonable to assume the land on which the camps sits is included in the rates.

The user will make the decision as to whether a camp is temporary or permanent, but typically any camp that is in use for more than two years should be considered permanent for the purposes of the ERC. The user can make a case for a camp being temporary if they can demonstrate things such as surface coverings are gravel or compressed earth with no concrete or bitumen and the absence of recreational facilities, such as tennis courts and gymnasiums.

For small mining operations and where camps are designed for a few people only, five or less, and comprised of simple infrastructure, the user can either enter alternate rates, use the small portable structures rate, or use the small temporary camp by area rate.

For a camp comprising of a caravan or one or two tents, one entry of the small portable structures rate may be sufficient. For larger but still simple and small camps, the small temporary camp by area rate is most likely more appropriate. The portable buildings table is for demountable type items, typically associated with temporary offices or crib rooms.

As with all default rates, transport of waste, scrap and reusable material is included in the rate and does not need to be added separately. Consistent with the ERC policy, the calculator does not offset the value of reusable material or scrap against the cost of demolition. The calculator does acknowledge that scrap steel will have a value and recognises this in setting the gate fee to zero. Similarly, equipment and structures that will likely have a reuse are assumed to be stored at zero cost rather than demolished and disposed.

The remaining tables are simple to use and understand. Consistent with the approach taken throughout the calculator, tables such as concrete and bitumen do not need to account for costs associated with plants and infrastructure included in other tables. Rather, it is to capture any disturbance that is clearly separate to the other items. For example, airstrips are not included in the assumptions for any of the default rates and must be entered into the concrete hard stand table.

The approach to the calculation of a default rate for sewage treatment plants has changed for this revision, with the unit being the capacity in kiloliters per day of the plant. This accounts for the plant infrastructure and equipment and land rehabilitation. Consistent with the approach throughout the calculator, the fencing table is not designed to capture fencing around plants and facilities as those default rates include an allowance.

The small ancillary table is for discrete facilities separate to major plant facilities, or which cannot be reasonably assumed to be included in those facilities. For example, fuel filling stations are not included in the default rates for camps. Consequently, if a filling station is associated with a camp, it must be included in this table. Similarly, the tanks table is for discrete tanks that cannot reasonably be assumed to be included in other plants and facilities. As in other sheets, the subtotals for each table are summed and then those totals are added to the total for the sheet and then displayed in the summary sheet.

The process equipment sheet is simple to use in that quantities entered to each row are multiplied by either the default rate or the user entered alternative rate with justification. Consistent with the general approach in the calculator, the rates include all activities that can be reasonably expected to be associated with the particular item. For example, the dragline rates include dismantling and demolishing the machine and managing waste and reusable materials.

The sheet includes an optional table below the main costing table whereby the user can collate quantities. The intent is to clearly show where the quantities have come from, as the user can list that item in the table and assign quantities accordingly. These quantities are automatically populated into the cost table above and added to any additional entries made in the cost table. Consistent with the general concepts throughout the calculator, if entries are made into one table, in this case the quantities table below the cost table, they do not then need to be added to the cost table. Note there is one exception to this rule and that will be discussed in the ports sheet.

As in the other sheets, the totals for each row are added up and the overall total reported to the summary sheet.

As always, for more information or specific instructions, please consult the user guide which is also available on the Business Queensland website below the download for the calculator. See you in the next module.

Welcome back to the training for the 2022 edition of the estimated rehabilitation cost calculator for mining. This is Module 8. In this module we will work through some examples in the water storage and the water treatment and pumping sheets.

The water storage sheet includes three tables. The first is water storage by category and capacity, the second is by crest area, and the third allows the user to build their own rate. The first two rows in the first table are different to the remainder of the table and allow for any small clean water type structures.

Rows in the remainder of the table include three drop-down menus defining the water structure or group of structures. The first drop-down menu determines the type of dam or pond. This selection primarily determines the thickness of sediment or sludge and whether the dam or pond is lined. The assumption is process and raw water dams are lined, and evaporation and other dams are not lined.

The next column is the selection of the water capacity at crest level and this determines quantities such as the volume of soil in bund walls that has to be moved. The last drop-down column is for the land type. If arid is selected because the site is in a desert area, no growth media or vegetation are included in the costs. The combination of the selections determines the default rates and this is multiplied by the number of structures in the row to get the total cost for that row.

The next table allows the user to enter dams and ponds based on whether they are lined or unlined and by area. The area quantity is the crest area of the dam or pond, or group of dams and ponds. The last table allows the user to build their own rate using some defaults set by the calculator. The calculation works out the cost of one dam or pond in the row and then multiplies it by the number of structures entered into this column. This is important because the entries throughout the table are for one dam or pond and only at the very end is the cost multiplied by the number of structures entered by the user in that row.

This is different to the other tables in this sheet. The user must enter at least a 1 in the number of structures column to make this calculation work. The top of water structure area, as in the crest area, is a key entry required to make the calculation work. The user then selects whether the dam is lined or unlined and can enter a specific liner area or accept the default. If the user enters a liner area less than the crest area an alert is shown and either the user needs to change the entries or explain why the liner area is less than the crest area. The liner area is multiplied by the default rates to calculate the cost for demolishing the liner and managing the waste.

The wall push in section is the bunds being demolished and pushed in for backfill. The wall height above ground service, width at top, and slope are key parameters that make the calculation work. The user can enter a specific cross-sectional area, in which case those values do not need to be entered. The linear length of bund wall is calculated by a simple square root of the area, but the user can enter a specific linear length of bunds. From these entries, the volume of soil in the bunds is calculated and this is multiplied by the default rate to obtain the total cost for this activity. The next section of the table is for sediment or sludge removal and management, and the user can enter their own thickness or accept the default as shown. The combination of crest area and sediment thickness calculate the sediment volume and this is multiplied by the default rate to calculate the total cost for sediment and sludge removal.

The growth media and revegetation section of the calculator works the same as the other tables in other sheets. The growth media area defaults to the crest area, but the user can enter a specific value or a specific growth media thickness. The combination of entries creates the growth media volume and this is multiplied by the default rate to calculate the cost associated with the application of growth media. Similarly with the seeding area, the default is to the crest area, but the user can enter a specific seeding area.

The selection of land for rehabilitation works the same as the other sheets in that the user enters percentages to pasture and/or native or sets these to 0 if the land is in arid desert land. The land investigation section requires the entry of the area to investigate and the share or fraction of the upfront cost of the investigation. This second column allows for campaign type investigations whereby full upfront costs are not necessarily applicable if, for example, small dams are grouped together and the cost would be shared across those structures. This is further explained in the user guide.

In its simplest form, the share fraction of upfront cost is set to 1 and this means all the upfront costs associated with the investigation are assigned to that row. If, for example, the share is set to 0.5, the calculator assigns half of the upfront cost to the investigation for that row.

The next section of the calculator is fleet selections, with the first being the haulage distance and fleet size for sediment removal. Keep in mind that anywhere there is a distance selection for fleet it is for a one way trip as the calculator will calculate the return trip in the background. For example, if the distance to haul is 1.5 kilometres, the user would select the greater than 1000 to less than or equal to 1500 meter range.

The next is the push lengthened dozer size for pushing in the bund walls, and the last set of selections are associated with growth media. The volumes calculated at the beginning of the table are multiplied by the default rates determined by the fleet selections to get the total cost for each activity for that row. If the best assumption is that water will be present in the dam and it must be pumped, this can be added to this column. The totals for both tables are added together and reported to the summary sheet for addition to the ERC total.

The water treatment and pumping user input sheet has several options for water treatment, including adjustment of low pH water and removal of salt and organics. Correction of low pH water assumes the use of neutralisers and two rates are available, one for initial pH of 4.5 or greater and one for pH of 5.5 or greater. If a site has lower pH water, the user must supply an alternate rate.

Removal of salt is assumed to be by reverse osmosis equipment, and if this rate is used, the user must also enter the mass of salt to be loaded and hauled and disposed to a waste facility by entering the salt disposal gate fee and adding a mobilisation entry to account for the cost of implementing and decommissioning the mobile treatment unit. Removal of organics assumes the use of an oil/water separator and activated carbon.

Two evaporation rates are included for reduction of water in ponds and dams. The first assumes natural evaporation and the rate allows for a technician visiting the site periodically to monitor water levels. The rate is by dam or pond and assumes a time period to set a rate. The second rate is enhanced evaporation using a device such as an atomiser. The rate allows for power, and a technician visiting the site periodically to monitor water levels and maintain equipment. The selection of either of these rates is the choice of the user. If there is likely to be obvious time pressure on the removal of water from the ponds, then enhanced evaporation is likely to be a more appropriate rate to use.

The water pumping and transfer rate allows for water that must be managed and is not included in other input sheets. Pumping and treatment requirements for pits can be included in the user input sheet for pits. Pumping of water from dams and ponds can be entered to the user build for water structures, but treatment is not included and the default rates do not include pumping or treatment of water. If preferred, the user can enter all water management requirements in the water treatment sheet.

Rates are included for removal of evaporation fans and other water management infrastructure, dewatering plant decommissioning, and an allowance for management, establishment, engineering and operation and maintenance costs.

The dewatering plant rate is for decommissioning of company owned dewatering plants. The entry is by capacity of the system. If multiple systems are present, the user can enter the sum. For example two times 1 megaliter per day plant would require an entry of 2. There is also a user build dewatering table that we will talk about later.

In general, if any of the water treatment and management options in this table are selected, the water management, engineering, establishment, and operation and maintenance rate should also be used unless the user can justify its emission. The entries to this table are simple quantity based, but please take note of the units for each column with salt disposal by mass, the treatment and pumping rates being by volume, and the evaporation rates by dam or pond.

Mobilisation of the reverse osmosis plant if salt removal is selected is typically a 1, with these costs being adequate to support multiple mobilisations to separate sites. The quantities part of the table allows multiple entries. For example, if water contains organics and low pH, the user enters quantities to both these columns. The total for all treatments in management options is added up in the total cost column and the user can enter an alternate rate with justification for the entire area, which bypasses all the individual treatment and management options. Water management scenarios will vary from site to site depending on the mine type and degree of processing undertaken.

The user should provide sufficient information to support the determination of the volume of water to be pumped, and selection of water treatment options which will be informed by water quality results and an understanding of the mine processes. The user can enter alternate rates for each treatment or management option in the cost part of the table, and as usual, must provide justification to the right of the table if they are used.

The dewatering table allows the user to build their own rate for a company owned dewatering system for which they will be responsible for decommissioning. The table requires entries including the number of downwell pipes, the type and length of piping, and the type and number of any tanks or dams and ponds specifically associated with the dewatering system that are not included in other sheets. There is also an option for a diesel generator if this is how the dewatering system is powered. If the dewatering system is powered from the site grid, then the decommissioning of services rate in the infrastructure sheet is assumed to cover disconnection of this item. If there are no other services on the site, then it is reasonable to either use the remote services rate in the infrastructure sheet or assume a diesel generator.

As in other sheets, the totals in each table are added up and the total for the sheet or domain reported to the summary sheet.

As always, for more information or specific instructions, please consult the user guide which is also available on the Business Queensland website below the download for the calculator. See you in the next module.

Welcome back to the training for the 2022  edition of the estimated rehabilitation cost calculator for mining. This is Module 9. This module covers: sheets 7 – waste rock dumps, overburden dumps, spoil piles and stockpiles; sheet 8 – heap leach pads; and sheet 9 – tailing storage facilities.

The waste rock dumps, overburden dumps, and spoil piles and stockpiles sheet has four tables. The first is the default rates of five risk categories of waste rock dump. The second is a user build table for waste rock dumps, and the third is a user build table for overburden dumps and spoil piles, and the fourth is a user build table for growth media stockpiles. The total cost is summed at the bottom of each table and the total cost for the sheet or domain is shown in the top ribbon. The total estimated rehabilitation cost is also shown at the top of the ribbon so the user can see how the overall estimated rehabilitation cost is changing with inputs into this specific sheet.

Let's look at the waste rock dump default table first. As for all input sheets, the first column is the map identification for that particular item. Column D allows the user to enter the name of the waste rock dump. The area column requires the user to input the total area of the waste rock dump that will require rehabilitation. This is a key entry to this table and must be entered for any line the user inputs to. The user must select a risk category from the drop-down menu in the risk category column. The presence of a drop-down menu is indicated by the red ‘select from dropdown’ text.

The risk categories are described further in the user guide. The selection of the risk category is a critical part of the calculation, and the user is encouraged to provide information to support their selection. As you can see, the use of this table is easy. You enter an area and select a risk category and the cost is calculated. As in other input sheets, if an alternate rate is justified for that line item, the user enters it into the alternate rate column and the cost for the line item is calculated based on the alternate rate. Note that the unit for the alternate rate in this case is dollars per hectare, and this gets multiplied by the area. Don't forget to add a justification in the alternate rate justification cell and the user is encouraged to provide sufficient detail to inform the department as to why an alternate rate is justified.

Now we move on to the second table, which is the user build for waste rock dumps. If you enter a waste rock dump into the defaults table we just spoke about, you do not need to enter it into any other table, including this user build table. This is a general principle throughout the calculator, in that you should not have to enter any quantities into more than one table. The user enters the map ID and the name of the waste rock dump. Like all other user build tables in the calculator, this table is broken into sections across the columns to aid understanding. The first set of columns is general details and dimensions associated with the waste rock dump. This is where the user enters the total footprint of the waste rock dump and selects the risk category, which in turn selects an appropriate default for capping thicknesses. The user enters areas and thicknesses of flat areas such as tops and benches, the slopes and batters, and the area of the ramps. You will see that the flat areas is linked to the total footprint of the waste rock dump and that is because generally the flat area will be approximately the total footprint area. However, if the user has more detailed information, they can change the flat area.

This is a general concept throughout the calculator in that if a quantity is typically equal to another quantity, it will be linked, but if the cell is green, the calculator acknowledges the user may have more detailed information and can enter it.

The next section in the table is focused on reshaping and dozing the waste rock dump. The user selects the reprofiled slope angle from the drop-down menu. If the user has specific volume quantities, they can enter it directly. Otherwise the calculator calculates the volume based on the entries added earlier. Similarly, the user can enter their own quantity into the user volume to push slopes column. Otherwise the calculator calculates that quantity. In the reshaped length of dozer push and fleet for reshaped columns, the user selects the dozer size and length of push specific to the reshaping activities.

The selection of these two items determines the dollars per cubic meter rate that will be applied to the total column, and the dozer and slope angle determined the unit rate for slope areas. The first of these comes from subrates table 2 and the user can click on the hyperlink to reference the full range of those rates. Similarly for the slope dollars per hectare rate, the hyperlink takes the user to this table, subrates table 3. The next two columns are the totals for these activities. The cost for dozer push all areas being the volume of material to be pushed by the dozer multiplied by that unit rate. The cost to doze and shape slopes and ramps column is the dollars per hectare rate multiplied by the total area to reshape.

One thing to note for dozer selections, which is common throughout the calculator, is that the smaller dozers cannot push as far as larger ones. So if the user selects a dozer that is not capable of achieving the selected length of dozer push the calculator will communicate an error and the cost totals will also be in error. In this case the user must reselect a larger dozer that can achieve the selected push length.

The next section is the rock armour placed over the waste material to provide stability. The first column, default slope break rock armour cover thickness shows the default thickness drawn from the capping table at the top of the sheet. The user can access this table through the hyperlink shown. The user can enter their own cover thickness in the user slope armour cover thickness column, and if a thickness less than the default is entered, they must provide justification in the capping alert sheet. You can see if we enter 0.5 instead of 1 an alert will be reported against that dump in the capping alert sheet and the user must provide the justification.

You can easily move between sheets as indicated previously by clicking on the contents hyperlink and then navigating back to the waste rock dump sheet. The rest of the rock armour table proceeds similarly to the previous table whereby the user can enter their own rock volume if they can justify it or accept the calculation. The user then selects the fleet size from the drop-down menu, which then selects the appropriate dollars per cubic meter rate and this is multiplied by the rock cover volume to get the total cost for that cover.

The capillary break layer is the next section of the table and operates similarly to the previous sections, whereby the user can enter the area that will be covered with the capillary break layer, and if so provide justification or accept the calculation, which defaults to the area of the waste rock dump. The default capillary break layer thickness is shown and the user can hyperlink to the table to see the range of values against each risk category. The user can enter their site-specific capillary break layer thickness and if it is less than the default, they must provide justification in the capping alert sheet. The user can enter a specific capillary break volume or accept the calculation, and this is multiplied by the dollars per cubic meter rate determined by the fleet selections to obtain a total for the source and prepare capillary break layer material.

This table also includes costs for the haulage of the capillary break layer material, starting with fleet size selection, which determines the appropriate unit rate, and this is multiplied by the volume again to get the costs for that activity. The last bit of this section for capillary break layers is the dozer push for the material and the total cost of which is determined by the fleet selections which determines the unit rate. The total cost for the capillary break layer is the sum of the three activities determined in the preceding columns.

The low permeability layer is the next section of the table and operates similarly to the previous sections, whereby the user can enter the area that will be covered with the low permeability layer and if so provide justification or accept the calculation, which defaults to the area of the waste rock dump. The default low permeability layer thickness is shown in this box and the user can hyperlink to the table to see the range of values against each risk category.

The user can then enter a specific low permeability layer volume or accept the calculation, and this is multiplied by the dollars per cubic meter rate determined by the fleet selections to obtain a total for sourcing and preparing the low permeability layer material. The next section of this table allows the user to select whether the low permeability clay will be obtained locally or must be sourced some distance from the site. If local is selected in the source for low permeability capping column, the calculator sets the long haul rates to zero and accepts the calculation in the source, prepare, place and compact low permeability layer material column.

If long haul is selected, the rate in low permeability unit rate is reduced and the long haul rates are used. For long haul the user must select the one-way distance from the drop-down menu in distance one-way for low permeability capping. The distance to the source site is one way and this selection determines the unit rate in dollars per cubic meter per kilometre. The user can hyperlink to subrates table 9 to see how these rates change with distance. For long haul, the transport costs just calculated is then added to the purchase cost dollars per cubic meter to obtain a total cost for the long haul of the capping material. The user can bypass this calculation and directly enter their own delivered to site costs in dollars per cubic meter in the user clay delivered to site column. If this is entered, they must provide justification. The combination of costs are then added to obtain the total cost for the low permeability layers.

The next section of the table is the top rock capping and this works similarly to the other sections. The surface area for top rock defaults to the surface area footprint for the waste rock dump, but the user can enter a site-specific value if they can justify it. The default layer thickness is determined by the risk category and the range of values is in the capping values table at the top of the sheets accessed by the hyperlink. Similarly to other sheets the user can enter specific thicknesses and volumes with justification or accept the calculations. The load and haul top rock unit rates are determined by the fleet selections and the sub cost determined by multiplication of the rate with the volume.

The next section of the table is for additional capping that may be entered. The additional capping will be determined by the user. The entries here are very simple in that the area for each particular type of capping, geofabric, geosynthetic layer, and geomembrane are entered and the rate for those is drawn from subrates table 5. The total is then displayed in the total for geo layers column. The next section of the table is for management of drains and water management, and again these are simple entries whereby the total area is entered and multiplied by the default unit rates. The user can enter a water management earthworks cost as a total cost, and justification must be supplied.

The next section of the table is for the application of growth media, soil amendments, and vegetation. The growth media section of the table works similarly to other sheets. A default thickness is supplied and reference from the capping values table at the top of the sheet. The user can enter their own thickness or their own volume, and the calculation uses whichever combination is entered. The growth media load and haul rate is drawn from subrates table 1, depending on the selection of haulage distance and fleet size the user selects. The growth media table includes a local and long haul selection similar to that described previously, and allows an alternate rate of dollars per cubic meter for growth media to be entered directly. The combinations of entries entered determines the total cost for growth media.

The next section of the table is for soil amendments and includes the options you can see in the drop-down menu. The table allows three soil amendments to be added, so the user can enter a combination of amendments and enter the specific area upon which that soil amendment will be added. In each case, the user can enter a site-specific dollars per hectare rate and provide justification for its use. The soil amendments include assumptions for the application rates, and these are shown in subrates table 14. The user cannot change the application rate in the waste structures table, but can enter a site-specific example to the general land rehabilitation sheet and change the application rate in that sheet. Consequently if required, the user could add the soil amendment for a waste rock dump or other structure in the general land rehabilitation sheet and enter their own application rate there. If the user chooses to do this, please provide information for the department to review.

The default for seeding is pastureland, but the user can change the mix depending on what the specific land type that area will be returned. The alert if land types do not equal 100% column alerts the user if they have added numbers that are greater than 100% of the land area. If the waste rock structure is in a desert area where vegetation is not expected, the user enter 0% in the proportion pasture land and proportion native land and this will create 100% proportion arid land, setting the seeding cost to 0. Depending on the selection the calculator uses the rates for seeding of pasture or native land, or zero if 100% arid, or takes the alternate rate entered by the user. If an alternate rate is added, the user must provide justification. The last section of the table is for permeability testing, engineering and other activities. The area for the permeability testing column defaults to the footprint of the waste rock dump and the number of points per hectare defaults to the number shown. The user can enter their own number of points per hectare and must provide justification.

Depending on these selections, the total cost for permeability testing is then calculated. The rate for engineering, which includes items such as groundwater assessments, modelling studies, landform design, engineering plans, work plans, and supervision references the capping values table at the top of the sheet. The user can enter their own dollars per hectare rate with justification. The user other activity columns allows the user to enter any other costs that must be attributed to the waste rock dump, and the user is encouraged to provide information to alert the department as to what these costs are. The total cost for waste rock dump is then shown in the total cost waste rock dump column and that cost is divided by the total footprint area to give a dollar per hectare rate. There is a check column which shows an error if incorrect entries have been added. This is primarily an incorrect dozer selection, which will be shown in those sections. If an error is shown, the user must go back and rectify. Justification for alternate rates can be added to the next column. The third and fourth tables in the waste rock dump, overburden dump, spoil piles and stockpiles are simple versions of the waste rock dump user build and use the same concepts as described for the user build table.

The heap leach pad and tailing storage facility sheets operate almost identically to the first two tables in the waste rock dump and piles sheet. There is one addition to heap leach pads and that is flushing. The flushing of the heap leach pads assumes the area is the footprint of the pad, but the user can enter their site-specific area. The user enters the thickness of the pad to be flushed and the calculator calculates the volume. If the user enters a site-specific volume the calculator uses that volume. The volume is multiplied by the heap leach pad flushing default rate to obtain the total cost for flushing, and this is added to the heap leach pad total. As with all the sheets, the totals in each table are added up and the total for each sheet or domain reported to the summary sheet.

As always, for more information or specific instructions, please consult the user guide, which is also available on the Business Queensland website below the download for the calculator.

See you in the next module.

Welcome back to the training for the 2022 edition of the estimated rehabilitation cost calculator for mining.

This is Module 10. In this module we'll work through examples in the user input sheets for pits and underground mines.

The pits sheet comprises of five treatments including safety bunding and fencing, blasting of benches and highwall, reshaping and making safe low walls, backfilling open pits, and backfilling/rehabilitating open pit ramps. The sheet works a little differently to others in that pit inputs such as backfill volume entered to the top table, flow down into the appropriate treatment tables. The calculated cost flows back up from the treatment tables to the basic pit information to give a total cost for each pit and the overall total cost for the pit domain. As in other sheets, the total cost for this input sheet is shown at the very top of the sheet as well as the overall total estimated rehabilitation cost.

The treatment tables can be accessed by hyperlinks in the top ribbon of the sheet. We will enter inputs and then use the hyperlinks to go down to each treatment table. As in all the sheets the user enters the map ID and then the name of the element, the pit in this case. The open pit void surface area is the first input in the basic information section and this is used in the backfill open pit table and as a general reference in other tables.

The next input is the safety bund or highwall length, and this is used in the safety bund and fencing table that we will go to now via the hyperlink at the top ribbon. You can see the map ID, the name of the pit, the open pit void surface area, and the safety bund length automatically populate in the safety bund and fencing table from the basic pit information. For bund construction, there are defaults as shown, but the user can enter their own bund height, bund base width, and bund top, and the bund specific volume in cubic meters per meter of bund length is calculated from these inputs multiplied by a swell allowance as shown. If the user enters these values the calculation uses those entries, otherwise the defaults are used. The next column calculates the volume of material in the bund. The bund surface preparation column calculates the cost to prepare the surface using the footprint calculated from the safety bund length and the bund base width. The safety bund construction method column allows the user to select whether the bund will be constructed by hauling material and placing it, or whether a local excavation will be undertaken to construct the bund.

If excavate and place is selected, the next column excavate and place calculates the cost to undertake this activity, multiplying the bund length by the default unit rate or the alternate rate if the user enters one. As in other sheets, if the user enters an alternate rate, they must provide justification in the column to the far right. For the hall in place option, the user can either select the distance from which they will source the material or accept the default of four kilometres. The user selects no from the drop-down menu in the user input haulage distance column if they wish to accept the default. If the user selects yes in the user input haulage distance column, they then must select the distance from which material will be sourced and the appropriate fleet size. The selections determine the load and haul rate in dollars per cubic meter, and this is multiplied by the total volume of the bund to get the total cost to load and haul the material to the construction site. The total cost for safety bund construction is then shown in the next column.

The next part of the table is for fencing and signage, and the default length for fencing is 1.2 times the length of the bund input by the user, to account for the offset distance of the fence from the bund. The user can change this length and is encouraged to provide information to the department if they do so. The next input is for highwall security fencing. These inputs are multiplied by the default rates for fencing and signage, or highwall security, or alternate rates if the user enters these. The last column, the blue one shows the total for this treatment and the individual total cost is populated back to the basic pit information table at the top of the sheet.

The next treatment is benches, highwall, drill, and blast which includes dozing to reshape and make the area safe. As in the previous table, the map ID and name of the pit are automatically populated from the basic pit information table. As is the high wall bench area and volume requiring blasting, and highwall bench volume requiring bulk push. The drill and blast costs are calculated using the default rate or alternate rate if the user enters one, multiplied by inputs populated from the basic pit information table. For the dozer shape, high wall to make safe section, the user must select a slope, angle, length of dozer, push and dozer size. The length of dozer push and dozer size determines the dozer push rate and this is multiplied by the high wall bench volume to get the cost for that activity. The slope angle and dozer size determine the reprofile unit rate and this is multiplied by the area to be reshaped to get the cost for that activity. As for all slope angles for dozer push, the higher the number, the steeper the slope and consequently the less effort the dozer has to exert and the lower the unit rate cost. Further, unit rates for dozers are typically lower for larger machines because the productivity increase typically outweigh the increase in hourly cost.

The next section of this table is for growth media, soil amendments and vegetation, and these work similarly to the tables described previously for the waste structures. As a recap, an automatic calculation of growth media volume is made by multiplying the default thickness by the footprint, and the user can change the volume by entering the growth media volume directly or entering a growth media thickness. The growth media load and haul rate is determined by the load and haul distance and the fleet size, and this gets multiplied by the volume of growth media to get the total cost for that activity. The amendment section works the same as for all other sheets. There are three soil amendment applications available and several material types that can be added, including gypsum and lime. The user enters the area over which each amendment will be applied and this gets multiplied by the default rate or the alternative rate if entered to gain the total cost for each amendment. The three amendments are added together to get the total cost for soil amendment. If no amendments are to be added, the user either leaves the area entirely blank, or selects no amendment in the dropdown selection for each.

The seeding part of the table works the same as for all other sheets, in that the user either accepts the area or enters the area to be seeded, then enters the proportion of land that is pasture or native, or makes both those 0's if the land is desert. If the total land area exceeds 100%, an alert is raised and the user must adjust the proportions. At the end of the table, the totals for each activity are added and those totals populated into the basic pit information for each pit.

The next treatment is for low wall shaping and the map ID, the name of the pit, the area of low wall to make safe, and the volume that will require pushing are automatically populated from the basic pit information table. This activity comprises primarily reshaping and pushing and the calculations work the same as for others previously described. The user selects the reprofile slope angle, which is downslope, the length of dozer push, and the dozer size and these select the appropriate unit rate which are multiplied by the volume and area to get the cost for those activities. The growth media and soil amendment section work exactly the same as previously described. The total for low wall shaping for each pit is summed in the right-hand column, and this is populated into the basic pit information table for each pit.

The next treatment is backfill open pit with waste rock or other material, and this includes some additional items not yet spoken about. As in the other tables, the map ID, name of the pit, and the key input quantities like open pit void area and open pit backfill volume in this case are automatically populated from the basic pit information table. The first bit of this table is associated with pumping and treatment of water from the pit and various water treatment options are available.

The first column is pumping water from the pit and the user enters the total volume to be pumped, which is multiplied by the unit rate or alternate rate if one is entered. The next two columns are adjusting acidic water to neutral, and again the user enters the volume to be adjusted and these are multiplied by the default or alternate rate. The next column is for removal of salt, which assumes the application of reverse osmosis, and if this section is used, entries must be made to the mobilization of reverse osmosis column and the mass of salt which will be required to be managed from the operation of reverse osmosis. Organics removal is for constituents like petroleum hydrocarbons and work similarly with the user entering the volume which is multiplied by the default or alternate rate. The next two columns are per dam with the first being the cost associated with monitoring natural evaporation from a pond. The user enters the number of dams from which monitoring will be applied to evaluate ongoing natural evaporation of water. The next column assumes the addition of an atomiser or other enhancement of evaporation and the entry is similarly number of dams. With these kinds of item entries, the calculator restricts the entry to whole numbers, and if this is the case, it is indicated by a whole number in this row. The last water management entry is establishment and engineering of the water treatment system and is entered by the volume of water anticipated to be managed. Each pit could have several water treatment options applied, and these are all added up to get the total water management cost for that pit.

The next part of the table is associated with sourcing and hauling the rock material to backfill the pit and work similarly to the other tables in other sheets. The rate for load and haul of locally sourced rock or other material is determined by the one-way distance for backfill rock and fleet size. If the source of rock is selected as long haul, this rate is set to 0 and the calculator looks at the distance one-way for rock if not local column to determine the cost for load and haul. The user selects the one-way distance and this is used to source from subrates table 9 the dollars per cubic meter per kilometre cost, which is then multiplied by the distance to the source of rock and the volume of rock to get the total cost for sourcing rock that is not local.

The next section of the table is backfill tip head and doze and this works similarly to the other dozer tables whereby the user selects the length of push and the dozer size, and this determines a rate that is multiplied by the volume to get the cost of that activity. The growth media, soil amendments and vegetation sections of the table work exactly the same as for those previously described. The total cost to backfill the open pit is summed and the number populated back into the basic pit information table against each specific pit.

The last table is for open pit ramp backfill or rehabilitate. The table allows two treatments. The first, backfill open pit ramp, and the second, removal of contaminated material. If the user enters the backfill volume in the basic pit information, the calculator uses this to determine the backfill requirements. Alternatively, the user can enter the average ramp depth, roadway width, ramp length, and number of ramps in the pit, in the open pit ramp backfill table and the calculator calculates the volume to be backfilled from these entries. The user can enter the contaminated material thickness which will override the default, or directly enter the volume of contaminated ramp material to remove. The rest of the remove and dispose ramp material table is the push of the material with the rate determined by the user selections of dozer push length, and fleet, and the haulage of the spoil to a distance and fleet size selected by the user. These selections and imports then determine the total cost to remove and dispose the roadway material. The remainder of the open pit ramp backfill rehabilitate table is calculating the cost of backfill and operates the same as for the open pit ramp backfill table. The total for each pit for open pit ramp backfill and rehabilitate activities is populated back to the basic pit information table. All the treatments applied to each pit are then summed to get a total cost for each pit, and these totals are summed to provide the total for the pit domain and are reported back to the summary sheet.

In the underground mines sheet, the user enters details in the first part of the table and the costs are calculated in the second part of the table. The sheet allows for termination of services, management of shafts, adits and declines, and rehabilitation of damaged land. The shaft options include backfill, plug, and cover and the user decides which options to use. These options are available for ventilation and hoisting shafts. If the backfill option is selected, the total depth for all the shafts in the row must be entered. The options for adits are cover and or seal, and the user again makes the decision as to which one is most appropriate. The user enters the number to be treated by each method. For declines and drifts, the number is entered and if these contain conveyors, the length is also required in the next column. For small historical shafts that would be closed, the user just enters the number of them.

The next section of the quantity part of the table is for rehabilitation of damaged land, including subsidence. The table of values description provides further information on which may be appropriate to use. As in other tables similar to this one, the quantities are multiplied by the default rates above the cost portion of the table and the user can enter an alternate rate which will override the default if they can justify its entry. The user can also enter an alternate rate for the whole row, which bypasses all of the default rates for the row and must provide justification. As with all the sheets, the total for that sheet or domain is reported to the summary sheet.

As always, for more information or specific instructions, please consult the user guide, which is also available on the Business Queensland website below the download for the calculator. See you in the next module.

Welcome back to the training for the 2022 edition of the estimated rehabilitation cost calculator for mining.

This is Module 11. This module will work through the user input sheet for ports.

Ports is a new addition to the calculator for 2022. The sheet includes a table of default rates and a user build table. The default rate table operates similarly to other tables in that the user enters the map ID, facility, or item name, selects the item which includes jetties, wharves, and reclaimers, and then the quantities are multiplied by the default rate or alternate rate if the user can justify one. Please note the units associated with each item.

The user build table is similar to other tables throughout the calculator and is specific to ports with sections focused on particular aspects of the port or marine facility. The table begins as usual with the map ID and name of the facility, and then has the key entry, total land area in hectares. This quantity determines various things throughout the rest of the table. The export quantity is an optional entry and provides some information to the reviewer as to the nature and magnitude of the item being costed.

The first major section of the table is for the wharf, and this requires the total surface area of the wharf and then whatever type of surface covering is present. The surface cover options are concrete, bitumen or asphalt, and gravel. A wharf may comprise a mix of these, in which case the user enters the area for each specific type of surface cover in each section. As is typical throughout the calculator, the user can override thickness defaults. For the gravel section, the user must select the distance from which the gravel will be retrieved. For all three surface coverings, the quantity entered is multiplied by the default rate or an alternate rate entered above the table if one can be justified. If the wharf surface is earthen, the user does not enter quantities into the surface cover sections.

The next section of the table is for dolphins, and this has an allowance cost as the default rate recognises costs associated with such items are varied. The user can enter an alternate rate with justification. The next section of the table is for major equipment, including jetty and land conveyors, ship and stockpile loaders, and reclaimers. The user simply enters the quantity. Alternate rates, as usual, can be entered above the table. The next section of the table is for rail infrastructure, and this operates similarly to the other tables and also allows alternate rates above the table.

The next section of the table is for buildings and structures and includes area-based rates for substations and switchyards and for various types of buildings and a number entry for portable demountable type items. These rates are the same as those in the infrastructure sheet. The building section of this table has a drop-down menu so the user can mix and match. As this table has several rows, the user could split up their port into sections, allowing selections of different buildings for example.

The camp section of the table is similar to the buildings whereby the user selects the camp from the drop-down menu and the appropriate rate is selected by the calculator. The user can again enter an alternate rate with justification. The pipe, tanks and dams and ponds section of the table operates similarly with dropdown menus allowing a range of options. The quantities, for example, length of pipe or number of tanks, are multiplied by the default rate or alternate rate if entered by the user.

The next major section is for land rehabilitation and this table operates the same as for other tables throughout the calculator. The default of land to rehabilitate, defaults to the total footprint entered at the beginning of the table, but the user can change this if justification is provided. The table starts with growth media and as in other tables throughout the calculator, the user can set their own area and thickness or accept the defaults and a growth medium volume is calculated based on whichever selections are made. The user must select whether the growth media is locally sourced, that is within 5 kilometres, or whether it will be transported via long haul. If local is selected, the long-haul rates are set to 0. For locally sourced growth media, the user selects the haulage distance for growth media and the fleet size. No fleet size selection is required for long haul. The user can enter their own growth media rate in dollars per cubic meter if it can be justified and if this is entered, the total growth media cost uses this rate. Whichever combination is entered, the total volume of growth media is multiplied by the rate to get a total cost for growth media.

The amendment section of the table works the same as the other sheets with three amendment areas available and several amendment materials in drop down menus. The user enters the area over which the amendment would be applied in each case and can enter on alternate dollars per hectare rate if it can be justified. In each case, the area of amendment is multiplied by the default rate or alternate rate if entered. The last section of the land rehabilitation part of the table is for seeding, and again this operates the same as the other tables, whereby the user enters the proportion of land in each land type. Alternate rates can again be entered with justification.

The last section of the table allows the user to enter items not included elsewhere in the table, and then all the costs for all the sections are added to provide the total for the row. As for other similar tables, the user can enter an alternate rate for the entire row and must provide justification. The cost in the default rate and user build tables are added together and reported to the summary sheet. Beneath the user build table is an optional quantities table where the user can show where quantities come from. The totals for this table are not reported automatically to the default or user build table. If the user enters quantity into this table, they must make sure the reviewer can see the connection between the quantities documented and the cost table, that is that the numbers match.

As always, for more information or specific instructions, please consult the user guide, which is also available on the business Queensland website below the download for the calculator. See you in the next module.

Welcome back to the training for the 2022 edition of the estimated rehabilitation cost calculator for mining. This is Module 12. In this module, we'll work through examples for the investigation and contamination, general land rehabilitation and mobilisation and additional items sheets.

The investigation and contamination sheet is used to cost for contaminated land investigations and treatment and disposal of contaminated material and scrap. The rolled up rates for facilities and infrastructure includes land investigation where one would be expected, example process dams, and allows for soil and scrap associated with demolition of process plants and draglines. The land investigation, contamination and scrap removal tables in this sheet are for isolated areas not associated with such facilities. The rolled up rates do not allow for any known significant contamination that may be present on the site and tables, example soil bioremediation, in this sheet can be used to account for such occurrences.

The preliminary site investigation unit rate is a one-off cost. A preliminary site investigation in the context of mine closure is typically a part of planning activities and aims to identify areas of known, suspected and reasonably probable contamination resulting from the mine operations. The preliminary site investigation comprises a review of the site setting, site history, operational history, including any accidents and incidents, hazardous liquids and solids storage schedules, and sources of potential impacts and receptors. To apply a cost for a preliminary site investigation, the user inputs the proportion of one-off cost to apply to each area, the number of investigations needed in the preliminary site investigations, together with the relevant dimensions to allow the investigation area and costs to be calculated. The proportion of one-off costs field is the multiplier on the one cost for investigation. This value is typically set to one, but there can be less if it is reasonable to assume several areas will be investigated during the same mobilisation.

An intrusive site investigation would be targeted and may not be required for all contaminated or preliminary investigation areas. The intrusive investigation rate should be applied considering risk, site history, past incidents and the planned rehabilitation program. An intrusive investigation should be considered if a site has contaminated land on the EMR or CLR, and scalping and disposal of contaminated material is not accounted for in key areas with potential for contamination, example process areas, maintenance yards, go lines. The cost of intrusive investigations is based on default rates and is calculated using the proportion of one-off cost field and the dimensions of the site. The user must add entries for both to cost an intrusive side investigation.

The entry made in the proportion of one one-off column must be made as a decimal, for example, 50% must be entered as 0.5. These entries trigger the calculation of both the land investigation one-off cost and the land investigation per unit area cost fields. The approach to estimating costs for site investigations recognises that most investigations of this nature comprise a single campaign or one mobilisation taking in multiple areas. The one-off cost allows for planning and preparation, ongoing project management, health and safety plans, work plans, and reporting. A combination of these factors must be considered in determining the number of one-off costs to apply. Examples of areas that may individually comprise one campaign are service facility areas, including fuel or chemical stores, workshops, vehicle wash downs, and sewage treatment, processing plants, including ore and product storage, mine waste storage and disposal rail loadout, and remote pit facilities like vehicle refueling, sewage treatment, secondary workshop and chemical storage. The user should enter a one for the one-off entry demonstrating the areas described in the line will be investigated in one campaign. The user can enter a fraction of one if they want to list individual areas that will be investigated in the one campaign. The by area rate accounts for activities undertaken on site.

The rate includes cost for field staff to collect soil samples, sampling equipment and consumables, and laboratory analytical costs. The user can describe the area for a land investigation by entering width and length or diameter or the area. This recognises that users will have different quantity types. Some users may use GIS that outputs area and others may measure length and width off a plan. If both length, width and diameter are added, the calculator uses length and width and ignores diameter. The calculated area column shows the calculation of area based on the user entered dimensions and if a value is entered directly to the user area column, the area for calculations column will default to that entry. The per area rate is applied only to the area to be investigated, for example a tank farm within a processing facility. In this case, only the area of the tank farm to be investigated is entered.

The next table is for removal of material from beneath the footprint of stockpiles and processing facilities that may not have been included in other input sheets. The removal of scrap and waste disposal to offsite facility tables are for miscellaneous areas not included in other input sheets. As mentioned, the rates for processing facilities and infrastructure include the removal of scrap and waste and consequently these tables are not to cover items already entered into other sheets, but for discrete, isolated items that cannot reasonably be expected to be included in the other sheets.

The management of soil contamination is not included in other sheets and the soil bioremediation table allows for the entry of specific areas whereby management of organic impacted soil is accounted for. The three different rates acknowledge that significant economies of scale will come from managing larger volumes.

The disposal to offsite facility waste levy table captures quantities from the waste register sheet if the waste levy is applicable to the site. The waste levy is now different from metro and regional zones, and the table multiplies by the rate associated with the user selection in registration. The user does not have to enter quantities to this table, but can add an optional area name description.

The General Land rehabilitation sheet accounts for activities associated with land rehabilitation that are not captured elsewhere in the calculator and can be used for buffer and fire safety areas. The default rates and user input tables in the other sheets include land rehabilitation, including footprint of facilities and access directly associated with facilities, so the general land rehabilitation sheet does not need to capture such activities for these items. For example, the default rates for waste rock dumps include grade and seed and the user input table has entries for soil amendment and long distance haul of materials if required, so the general land rehabilitation sheet is not used for these items. Rather the general land rehabilitation sheet is used for miscellaneous land areas that are not included in other input sheets. An example, maybe a rehabilitated pit that is known to require further land rehabilitation.

This sheet can be used for all areas requiring any of the following - land rehabilitation and repair of subsidence and land management, natural drainage and diversions, general grade and rip, general doze and rip, miscellaneous soil amelioration and seeding, bores, long distance carting of amendments, long distance carting of growth media, and long distance carting of clay. These tables all require a variety of user inputs to allow the areas or volumes of material to be calculated before this is multiplied by the default rates to give the total cost. Users may enter alternative rates and where this is done justification for the proposed rate must be included in the space provided at the end each table.

The long distance haul tables are for carting of materials from greater than 6 kilometres of the intended use area for items not covered by other input sheets. The distance is selected from the drop down menu which has increments extending up to 200 kilometres one way. The user enters the mass of material required and this is multiplied by the distance and the default rate to obtain the total cost for that area. The purchase price is separate to the transport cost and this is shown in the adjacent column.

The mobilisation and user input sheet allows entries for mobilisation and demobilisation, and any additional site specific items that do not have a space elsewhere in the calculator. Mobilisation and demobilisation is the process of transporting earthmoving machinery to the site for the rehabilitation work and transporting the machinery back to the supply centre. Typically, the supply centre for earthmoving equipment is a major centre such as Brisbane or Rockhampton. The mobilisation and demobilisation costs reflect the effort required for safe transport of earthmoving equipment, which typically includes floats and convoys. The calculator includes mobilisation and demobilisation rates for small, medium, large and truck and shovel fleets and in several distance ranges as shown. The default rates allow for transport both ways and therefore the user should use the one way distance from supply centre to source when determining the appropriate line to select. The default rates include costs for utility and service vehicles to support the earth moving equipment.

The number of mobilisation and demobilisation units entered is dependent on the activities selected throughout the calculator. Typically, the expectation is for only 1 entry, with the fleet size reflecting the predominant size used through the calculation. For large projects, 2 entries may be required, for example, a small fleet source from a local centre and a large fleet source from a major centre. The users who justified the distance and fleet size selected in the user notes section of the mobilisation and user sheet. Irrespective at least 1 of these rates must be applied once for every submitted ERC. This sheet requires only the input of quantities next to the appropriate line. If alternate rates are justifiable, they can be entered into the yellow cells with an explanation in the justification for alternate rate section of each line.

For small projects where the total ERC is less than $1,000,000 before mobilisation costs and multipliers, the user may choose to apply mobilisation and demobilisation costs by using the 10% flat rate option contained on the summary sheet. The user can choose this option by entering a 1 into the line titled mobilisation and demobilisation, small projects here in the summary sheet. Using this functionality will apply a mobilisation and demobilisation cost of 10% of the premobilisation and multiplies amount. If using this approach, the user should not enter quantities into the mobilisation sheet.

The additional items table allows space for the user to enter items which do not have a place elsewhere in the calculator. The cost calculated in the additional items table will contribute to the total cost and flow through to the summary sheet. All items entered into this table need to be justified in the comments space provided at the end of the table.

The user input sheet allows for users to enter free text data, which may include granular disturbance quantities and other miscellaneous supporting information. The values entered into this sheet are not linked through the workbook and the user must ensure all disturbance values are separately entered into the relevant sheets. This sheet and the associated user notes box can be used to communicate to the department where and why any disturbance areas are different between the ERC and the progressive rehabilitation and closure plan or EA.

As always, for more information or specific instructions, please consult the user guide, which is also available on the business Queensland website below the download for the calculator. And this completes the last module in the training. Thanks for joining me.