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Rebuilding Soil Systems. Restoring Ecosystems. Delivering Responsible Mine Closure.

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Abstract Submissions Close

1 August 2026 | 5.00pm AEST

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Submit Your Abstract

All abstracts must be submitted via the official online Abstract Submission Form.  [Submit Abstract Here]

Email submissions will not be accepted.

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Why submit?

Queensland's mining industry is entering a new era of rehabilitation accountability, where success is increasingly measured by the ability of reconstructed landscapes to deliver long-term ecological function, stable landforms and sustainable post-mining land uses.

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The 2026 Queensland Mine Rehabilitation, Soil Management & Environmental Recovery Summit brings together mining companies, regulators, environmental professionals, researchers and rehabilitation specialists to examine the science, engineering, policy and practical delivery of successful mine rehabilitation outcomes.

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We invite submissions from industry, government, research organisations and consultants that showcase innovation, operational experience, lessons learned, technical excellence and practical solutions relevant to mine rehabilitation and environmental recovery.

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Presentations may include applied case studies, research findings, regulatory perspectives, rehabilitation technologies, closure strategies and emerging best practice.

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Thematic Focus areas:

1. Manufactured Soils, Growth Media & Functional Soil Systems

Topics may include:

• QMRC manufactured soil blending criteria and implementation

• Engineered growth media and soil reconstruction strategies

• Topsoil scarcity, stockpiling and resource optimisation

• Spoil characterisation and soil amendment techniques

• Soil chemistry, structure and nutrient management

• Functional soil systems for long-term rehabilitation success

• Validation and monitoring of reconstructed soil performance

• Post-Mining Land Use (PMLU) soil requirements

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2. Rehabilitation Regulation, Compliance & Closure Liability

Topics may include:

• Rehabilitation obligations under Queensland PRCP frameworks

• Critical minerals rehabilitation requirements

• Environmental assurance and financial liability considerations

• Compliance monitoring and performance-based rehabilitation

• Regulatory expectations for closure and relinquishment

• Rehabilitation risk management and governance

• Environmental accountability and closure assurance frameworks

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3. Erosion, Sediment Control & Landform Stability

Topics may include:

• Erosion processes in rehabilitated mine landforms

• Sediment control and downstream environmental protection

• Landform design and stability assessment

• Surface water management and drainage design

• High-rainfall and extreme weather rehabilitation challenges

• Geotechnical considerations in rehabilitation landforms

• Monitoring and verification of landform performance

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4. Climate-Resilient Rehabilitation & Future-Focused Closure Design

Topics may include:

• Climate adaptation in rehabilitation planning

• Rehabilitation design under changing rainfall patterns

• Drought, flooding and extreme weather impacts on rehabilitation

• Climate-resilient landform and soil system design

• Future climate scenarios in closure planning

• Long-term rehabilitation risk assessment

• Resilience-based approaches to mine closure

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5. Soil Biology, Carbon Recovery & Ecosystem Function

Topics may include:

Soil microbiology and ecological recovery

• Carbon sequestration and carbon cycling in rehabilitated landscapes

• Soil biological indicators of rehabilitation success

• Microbial restoration and inoculation techniques

• Ecosystem development and resilience

• Soil health monitoring and assessment frameworks

• Biological drivers of long-term rehabilitation performance

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6. Soil Reconstruction, Rehabilitation Performance & Ecosystem Recovery

Topics may include:

• Topsoil handling and management practices

• Soil profile reconstruction techniques

• Vegetation establishment and soil-plant interactions

• Functional ecosystem development after mining

• Rehabilitation performance indicators

• Landscape restoration and ecological succession

• Long-term monitoring of rehabilitation outcomes

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7. Soil Contamination, Geochemistry & Legacy Site Management

Topics may include:

• Soil contamination in mining environments

• Acid mine drainage and geochemical instability

• Metal mobility and contaminant pathways

• Risk-based rehabilitation planning

• Containment, treatment and remediation approaches

• Legacy mine rehabilitation challenges

• Residual risk and long-term environmental liability

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8. Nature-Positive Rehabilitation & Biodiversity outcomes

Topics may include:

• Nature-positive mine closure strategies

• Biodiversity recovery and ecological restoration

• Landscape connectivity and habitat creation

• Measuring ecosystem function and environmental value

• ESG-driven rehabilitation outcomes

• Ecological performance metrics and monitoring

• Achieving self-sustaining ecosystems post-mining

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9. Innovative Rehabilitation Technologies & Emerging Practice

Topics may include:

• Nature-based rehabilitation solutions

• Bauxite residue and mine waste rehabilitation

• Novel soil amendments and treatment technologies

• Remote sensing and rehabilitation monitoring

• Data-driven rehabilitation management

• Rehabilitation innovation and emerging research

• Case studies demonstrating improved environmental outcomes

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10. Non-Use Management Areas (NUMAs) & Long-Term Land Stewardship

Topics may include:

• NUMA planning and regulatory requirements

• Final void and permanent landform management

• Long-term soil stability and environmental performance

• Risk management in non-rehabilitated areas

• Closure planning for residual disturbance

• Monitoring and maintenance obligations

• Long-term stewardship and relinquishment pathways

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Queensland Priority Areas

The Program Manager  particularly welcomes submissions addressing Queensland-specific rehabilitation and closure challenges, including:

• QMRC manufactured soil frameworks and implementation

• Rehabilitation performance under PRCP requirements

• Critical minerals rehabilitation and closure obligations

• Climate resilience in rehabilitation and closure design

• Soil contamination and legacy mining impacts

• Nature-positive rehabilitation outcomes

• Long-term closure risk and environmental stewardship

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Submission Requirements

Applicants will be asked to provide:

• Presentation Title

• Proposed Theme / Topic Area

• Presenter Name

• Position Title

• Organisation

• Contact Details

• Speaker Biography (maximum 100 words)

• Abstract Summary (300–500 words)

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Key Learning Outcomes
Previous Speaking Experience (optional)
Selection Criteria

Abstracts will be reviewed by the Program Committee based on:

• Relevance to Summit themes

• Practical industry value

• Innovation and originality

• Technical quality

• Queensland mining sector relevance

• Applicability to rehabilitation and closure outcomes

• Preference will be given to submissions that present operational case studies, lessons learned, innovative rehabilitation approaches, measurable outcomes and practical solutions applicable to the mining sector.

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Notification of Outcome

Successful applicants will be notified following the review process.

The Program Manager reserves the right to allocate presentations to the most appropriate session and may request amendments to presentation titles or abstracts to align with the final conference program.

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Who should submit?

• Mining Companies

• Rehabilitation Managers

• Mine Closure Specialists

• Environmental Managers

• Soil Scientists

• Ecologists and Restoration Practitioners

• Geochemists

• Environmental Consultants

• Regulators and Government Agencies

• ESG and Sustainability Professionals

• Researchers and Academic Institutions

• Rehabilitation Contractors and Technology Providers

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Summit Objective

The Summit aims to advance the science, policy and practice of mine rehabilitation by exploring how Queensland's mining sector can deliver functional soil systems, resilient landscapes and sustainable environmental outcomes that endure long after mining ceases.

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Through collaboration between industry, government and research sectors, the program will showcase practical solutions, emerging technologies and leading practices that support responsible mine closure and long-term environmental stewardship.

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Final Note

As rehabilitation expectations continue to evolve, the mining industry faces increasing pressure to demonstrate measurable environmental outcomes, climate resilience and long-term land stewardship.

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This Summit provides a platform to share knowledge, challenge conventional approaches and showcase the innovations shaping the future of mine rehabilitation and environmental recovery across Queensland and Australia.