OneSteel working hand in hand with conservation alliance
Helping to sustainably maintain the land on which we operate
OneSteel Manufacturing is continuing its program of environmental care at its South Middleback Range (SMR) mining operations as a key member of the Middleback Alliance.
The Alliance is a partnership between the South Australian Department for Environment and Water (DEW), OneSteel Manufacturing, Ecological Horizons and local landholders. It aims to sustainably manage both private and public land in the Middleback Range and surrounding areas of more than 250,000 hectares.
“Rehabilitation is an important aspect of our membership and allows us to get great advice from experts within the Alliance on doing the right thing by the country in which we operate in
Peter Woods
The OneSteel Manufacturing Pty Ltd’s (Administrators Appointed) (OneSteel) environmental team works in close cooperation with the Alliance and its members on a variety of projects. This is acknowledged with Alliance road signs in the region promoting this vital activity.
OneSteel Environment Approvals Manager, Peter Woods said the OneSteel’s membership of the Alliance, for the past ten years and into the future, was important for both the business and the environment.
“It is a very important group to be involved because we operate on the land in which all Alliance members have an interest in,” Peter said.
“It allows us to contribute to important programs such as land rehabilitation, herbivore management, native species monitoring and care.”
“Being a member of the Alliance enables us to have a bigger impact and take a regional approach to land management, for the collective benefit of the environment, the flora, fauna and all surrounding landholders and managers.”
Katherine Moseby from Ecological Horizons said key programs conducted by the Alliance included control of feral species such as foxes, rabbits, cats and goats, and fire management for threatened species protection.
It has been a great opportunity to work with the OneSteel environment team to get the very best outcomes for the environment
Katherin Moseby
The program conducts annual Malleefowl nest monitoring and pitfall trap monitoring for threatened species such as the sandhill dunnart. Reintroductions of several species including the Shark Bay barred bandicoot, numbat, red-tailed phascogale and plains mouse have also occurred into a fenced reserve on Secret Rocks Nature Reserve.
Plant surveys have given valuable insights into native species such as chalky wattle, yellow swainson pea and lax bluebush while reintroductions of rare plants have also occurred in collaboration with the SA seed centre.
“Working in partnership with local landholders, government and mine operators like OneSteel Manufacturing creates very positive and encouraging outcomes and allows us to work across land tenures,” Katherine said.
“With mines operating across Australia, it is vitally important that mine owners engage with organisations like ourselves and the government to manage the wildlife and plants on the country in which they operate.
“It has been a great opportunity to work with the OneSteel environment team to get the very best outcomes for the environment.”
To complement this care for native species, there has also been multiple initiatives to combat feral species with remote camera monitoring of goats and foxes along with campaigns to control foxes and feral cats.
The Alliance is about working with our neighbours to achieve the best possible outcome for the environment now and into the future
Peter Woods
Being involved in these programs gives OneSteel invaluable insights into the local environment and access to the Alliance’s land experts when it comes to exploration of new mines sites and rehabilitation at existing sites.
“Rehabilitation is an important aspect of our membership and allows us to get great advice from experts within the Alliance on doing the right thing by the country in which we operate in,” Peter said.
“Similarly, it is just as important to have all the best information available when it comes to the land and its inhabitants when we conduct exploration as well as established mining.
“The Alliance is about working with our neighbours to achieve the best possible outcome for the environment now and into the future.”
The Middleback Alliance area encompasses four conservation parks (Lake Gilles, Ironstone Hill, Munyeroo and Sheoak Hill), Secret Rocks nature reserve, the South Middleback Range and numerous pastoral leases and heritage agreements.
Main picture and top right: The Middleback Alliance sign on the Lincoln Highway. Middle right: The Sandhill Dunnart. Picture courtesy of Ecological Horizons. Bottom right: A Mallee fowl. Picture courtesy of Ecological Horizons.
