Yes would have they learnt something from the past.
### Abandoned, Unrehabilitated Coal Mines in AustraliaAustralia faces a significant legacy problem with abandoned and unrehabilitated coal mines:- **Estimated Number**: There are likely between **250 and 300 abandoned coal mines** across the country, according to the most recent national database and relevant reporting[5].- **Wider Context**: Australia has an estimated **80,000 disused and inactive mine sites**, many of which remain unrehabilitated and include coal, gold, base metals, and other commodities[3][10].- **Rehabilitation Rate**: Only a handful of mines—of all types—have ever been fully rehabilitated and relinquished to the point that no further environmental liability exists[1].- **Geographic Concentration**: Tasmania is noted as having the highest number of abandoned coal mine sites, based on national compilations[5].- **Ongoing Liability**: The responsibility for rehabilitation largely falls on Australian state and territory governments, especially for sites closed before modern environmental bonding requirements were in place[5].#### Key Issues- **Environmental Risks**: Unrehabilitated coal mines remain a persistent source of environmental contamination, from acid mine drainage to greenhouse gas emissions.- **Data Gaps**: Official figures remain estimates, as reporting and tracking of site status vary across states and definitions can differ from one jurisdiction to another[5][1].#### Summary Table| Category | Estimated Number | Notes ||-----------------------------|-------------------------------------|----------------------------|| Abandoned coal mines | 250–300[5] | Tasmania leads nationally || All abandoned mine sites | 60,000–80,000[3][6][10] | Includes other minerals || Fully rehabilitated mines | Very few (only a handful)[1] | Only one coal site cited |#### ConclusionAustralia has an estimated 250–300 abandoned coal mines that remain unrehabilitated, a small fraction of the nation’s total abandoned mine sites. Very few have been restored to a state that meets final closure or relinquishment standards, making this a persistent issue for environmental management and public policy[5][1][3].
Citations:[1] Mining report finds 60,000 abandoned sites, lack of rehabilitation ... https://tjryanfoundation.org.au/environment-energy/mining-report-finds-60000-abandoned-sites-lack-of-rehabilitation-and-unreliable-data/[2] Dark side of the boom - The Australia Institute https://australiainstitute.org.au/report/dark-side-of-the-boom/[3] Mine the gap: Australia's 80000 disused mines https://australianminingreview.com.au/features/mine-the-gap-australias-80000-disused-mines/[4] Assessing repurposing options for abandoned mines and quarries ... https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921344925001338[5] [PDF] Towards an inventory of abandoned mines in Australia - CRC TiME https://crctime.com.au/crcwp/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Final-report-Project-4.5-Towards-an-inventory-of-abandoned-mines-in-Australia.pdf[6] Australia's abandoned mines: rehabilitated - Australian Geographic https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/topics/history-culture/2022/07/australias-abandoned-mines-rehabilitated/[7] No more abandoned mines - Lock the Gate Alliance https://www.lockthegate.org.au/mine_rehab_campaign[8] Abandoned mines unlock hidden treasures - Australian Mining https://www.australianmining.com.au/abandoned-mines-unlock-hidden-treasures/[9] [PDF] Dark side of the boom - The Australia Institute https://australiainstitute.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/P192-Dark-side-of-the-boom-web.pdf[10] Cleaning up Australia's 80000 disused mines is a huge job https://theconversation.com/cleaning-up-australias-80-000-disused-mines-is-a-huge-job-but-the-payoffs-can-outweigh-the-costs-215447
