The Australian Centre for Minesite Rehabilitation Research
(ACMRR) was established through a mining industry initiative to meet the need of
industry, governments and the community for sustainable systems for land
affected by exploration, mining and mineral processing activities. The Centre,
which is a consortium of the major groups associated with mining rehabilitation
research in Australia, has a focus on both strategic research and technology
transfer and combines a wide range of multidisciplinary skills covering
engineering and the physical and biological sciences. The paper briefly
describes the goals, structure, expertise and research and technology transfer
activities of the Centre. The major research program areas of waste rock dump
and final void stability, acid mine drainage, tailings disposal, and remediation
of ecosystem reconstruction are described in the context of national
priorities.