Glencore Coal celebrates major rehabilitation milestones
Media statement
Mackay, Australia
Glencore has reached two significant milestones in its rehabilitation program, with the Queensland Government certifying a combined 725 hectares of mined land across its Rolleston Open Cut and Newlands Coal operations.
At Rolleston Open Cut, 323.5 hectares of land were certified — the site’s fifth and largest certification to date. With this latest approval, more than 1,100 hectares, or around a quarter of the mine’s total footprint, have now been certified.
Glencore’s Newlands Coal operation, which ceased active mining in 2023 and has since transitioned fully into rehabilitation and closure, also received certification for 402.1 hectares of land. The certified areas include both grazing pasture and native ecosystems, demonstrating the site’s future potential as productive post-mining land.
John Watson, Director of Environment and Community for Glencore Coal, said the outcomes highlighted Glencore’s ongoing commitment to progressive rehabilitation across its operations.
“These results are a clear demonstration of the investment and effort our teams put into rehabilitation throughout the life of our mines,” John said.
“More than 1,765 hectares have now been certified across Rolleston and Newlands alone, giving confidence that once-mined land can be rehabilitated to meet strict criteria and returned to agreed post-mining uses.”
For the teams involved, the certifications reflect years of planning, commitment and delivery.
“This certification is our biggest yet and it shows the consistent quality of work being done to progressively transition mined land into productive post-mining use,” said Ken Dixon, Environment and Community Manager at Rolleston Open Cut.
“It’s important for us and for our community to see this progress— it gives confidence that the land is being responsibly managed and will continue to deliver value into the future.”
At Newlands, Environment and Community Manager Craig Bushell, said the certification was particularly meaningful given the site’s transition out of active mining.
“Newlands has entered a new chapter, with mining now complete and rehabilitation the sole focus.”
“This certification shows what’s possible — mined land can be successfully rehabilitated to meet all agreed criteria and provide productive outcomes for the community long after mining has finished.”
Since 2017, Glencore has had 18 rehabilitation areas across Queensland and New South Wales certified by government.
For further information, please contact:
Jessica Smith
m: +61 497 504 420
e: Jessica Smith
Laura Reilly
m: +61 419 949 254
e: Laura Reilly
Notes for editors
About Glencore Australia
In Australia, Glencore produces coal, zinc, nickel, cobalt, copper, lead and silver from 20 active mining operations. We also operate metals processing assets in Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory, including concentrators, smelters and refineries.
We are among Australia’s largest producers and marketers of natural resources, connecting Australian resources with industrial customers around the world. Through our diverse portfolio, we responsibly supply the resources that advance everyday life.
We employ 17,420 people in Australia and in 2024 contributed almost $19.6 billion to the regional, state and national economies. This included spend of $13.5 billion with 6,810 businesses, as well as $3.6 billion in government tax and royalty payments.
We are committed to providing a safe, inclusive and respectful workplace for our people, to respecting the environment, to engaging openly and constructively with the Traditional Owners on whose lands we operate and to bringing value to local communities.
We will support the global effort to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement through our efforts to decarbonise our own operational footprint. We believe that we should take a holistic approach and have considered our commitment through the lens of our global industrial emissions. For more information see our 2024-2026 Climate Action Transition Plan.
Learn more about Glencore Australia.