Waterway Stories: Connecting Community & Waterways Through Storytelling Fitzroy Partnership for River Health (FPRH) has consistently championed initiatives that foster environmental stewardship and community engagement within the Fitzroy Basin. One such endeavor is the Waterway Stories project, designed to deepen the connection between the local community and their waterways.​ By documenting personal experiences, historical accounts, and cultural insights, the initiative aims to cultivate a profound appreciation for these aquatic ecosystems. This storytelling approach not only educates but also inspires individuals to participate actively in preserving and enhancing waterway health.​ Community involvement is central to the success of Waterway Stories. By encouraging residents to share their unique perspectives, experiences and anecdotes, the project fosters a sense of ownership and responsibility toward local waterways. This participatory model aligns with FPRH’s broader mission to provide comprehensive and accessible information about river health, empowering the community to make informed decisions and take meaningful action.​ Waterway Stories is an effective way to bridge the gap between science and community engagement. While data and monitoring reports provide essential insights into water quality and ecosystem health, personal stories make [...]

Protecting Waterway Health: A Decade Long Partnership Water is a vital resource with significant social, cultural, environmental and economic values.  At BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) comprehensive water management is prioritised to safeguard waterway health and achieve set context based water targets.  Context based water targets address water challenges shared by BMA and other stakeholders in the regions where they operate.  They focus on improvements in water resource management such as water reuse and consumption and effective mine water release management.   Recognising the potential impact of mine water release into the receiving environment, BMA has collaborated with Central Queensland University (CQU) over the past decade on the Aqua Eco Health Program (AEHP).  This initiative has collected and analysed water quality, sediment and biota data up and downstream of BMA operations in the Bowen Basin in Queensland.  The partnership has identified and unlocked valuable insights and trends by analysing extensive environmental data collected over the 10 years. This AEHP initiative comprehensively analyses all available historical environmental data collected and provides:  Valuable insights and trends into the potential impact of mine water release on [...]

The Importance of Water Recycling + Reuse in QLD's Coal Mining Industry Water is essential for the coal mining industry, especially in Queensland, where mining operations are extensive, and water scarcity is a real challenge. The industry relies on water for various processes, including dust suppression, mining operations, and resource processing. This heavy reliance, combined with other water users, presents both risks and opportunities for local water resources, particularly in areas like the Fitzroy Basin, which can experience prolonged periods of low rainfall. The mining sector has the expertise and capacity to drive sustainable practices, such as water recycling and reuse. At Anglo American’s steelmaking coal operations across the Fitzroy Basin, we’ve been proactive in implementing water recycling and reuse initiatives to contribute nature-positive outcomes for local water resources. Since 2020, we’ve increased our reuse and recycling from 50% to 65% of total water use. In 2024 alone, this led to a reduction of 1,023 million litres of freshwater withdrawal. A number of benefits for our operations include: Reduction in freshwater consumption: By recycling and reusing water, we significantly reduce our reliance [...]