The mining industry in Western Australia is a large sector of the WA
economy providing $12 billion (1993) of the export income for the State.
Historically, mining in WA developed from traditional prospecting in the
late-1880s leading to major underground operations by the turn of the
century. Large open pits were developed in WA following World War II
and became increasingly common since the gold boom of the 1980s. With the development of the open pits has been concomitant evolution
of mining legislation, principally the Mining Acts of 1904 and 1978,
which has been also accompanied by a practical evolution of the
administrative system within the Department of Minerals and Energy. The mining industry has recognised the need for sound environmental
management at mine sites, taking up the challenge and becoming a world
leader in rehabilitation techniques. Any environmental management program in the industry has three
stages: approval by government; management by the industry; and return
to the State in an environmentally acceptable condition. The WA
environmental requirements, procedures and industry performance in
these three stages are discussed.