Sibelco Australia has a strong track record in environmental management and has successfully rehabilitated many mine sites while working in confined, environmentally sensitive areas. In 2008, the company was awarded the prestigious Resource Industries Sustainability Award for outstanding performance in Environmental Best Practice by the Queensland Government’s Environmental Protection Agency (now Department of Environment and Resource Management).

The company is internationally renowned for rehabilitating native vegetation and ecosystems on NSI's high sand dunes. Each year we restore on average 75 hectares of land to its original form, with a total of almost 4000 hectares rehabilitated to date.

Only 1% of the sand mined for heavy minerals on NSI is actually removed from the Island. That's why we can rehabilitate the mined sand dunes back to their original form. Our 20-year program for rebuilding the ecosystem of each area mined will ensure a sustainable Stradbroke for generations to come. 

Many years of peer-reviewed research supports our track record in rehabilitation. This research has confirmed NSI’s koalas are living happily in rehabilitated land. Our future mining plans do not impact on any established koala habitat.

National Parks

Sibelco Australia has identified areas of undisturbed land or rehabilitated land within our lease holding that will be appropriate for National Park. Our vision for a Sustainable Stradbroke includes a progressive introduction of National Park on NSI achieving balanced environmental, economic and social outcomes.

Land can be converted into National Park following a resolution on land tenure issues and native title rights.

Click here to view images of mined areas and their rehabilitation.