Queensland Case Research Articles

Assessing the Likelihood of Mine Site Revegetation Success: A Queensland Case Study

Mining companies operating in Queensland have a statutory obligation to rehabilitate mined land. The long-term sustainability and success of the rehabilitation is currently assessed through completion criteria, based on comparisons between rehabilitation and ecological ‘reference’ sites. A copper mine in northwest Queensland was studied in 2002–2003 to examine the difficulties with this comparative approach arising from the differences in ecological, mining and regulatory timeframes. Operation of the mine commenced in 1994 and is expected to cease in 2007. The study provides an overview of revegetation progression at the mine and examines the likelihood of the revegetation satisfying completion criteria. The seven-year old rehabilitated sites and two ‘reference’ sites were examined using Landscape Function Analysis, assessment of vegetation parameters and application of the ‘vital attributes’ model of succession. These studies were used to assess the current status of revegetation, the value of ‘reference’ comparisons and to predict likely successional trajectories. The study showed revegetation has not yet satisfied the completion criteria, which is unsurprising considering the relatively short time passed since the commencement of mining and revegetation work. The study examines the issue of successfully revegetating mined land in a semi-arid to arid zone of Queensland within the current legal framework.

Assessing the Likelihood of Mine Site Revegetation Success: A Queensland Case Study

Mining companies operating in Queensland have a statutory obligation to rehabilitate mined land. The long-term sustainability and success of the rehabilitation is currently assessed through completion criteria, based on comparisons between rehabilitation and ecological ‘reference’ sites. A copper mine in northwest Queensland was studied in 2002–2003 to examine the difficulties with this comparative approach arising from the differences in ecological, mining and regulatory timeframes. Operation of the mine commenced in 1994 and is expected to cease in 2007. The study provides an overview of revegetation progression at the mine and examines the likelihood of the revegetation satisfying completion criteria. The seven-year old rehabilitated sites and two ‘reference’ sites were examined using Landscape Function Analysis, assessment of vegetation parameters and application of the ‘vital attributes’ model of succession. These studies were used to assess the current status of revegetation, the value of ‘reference’ comparisons and to predict likely successional trajectories. The study showed revegetation has not yet satisfied the completion criteria, which is unsurprising considering the relatively short time passed since the commencement of mining and revegetation work. The study examines the issue of successfully revegetating mined land in a semi-arid to arid zone of Queensland within the current legal framework.

Attitudes to Entry Fees to National Parks: Results And Policy Implications From A Queensland Case Study

This paper examines visitor attitudes and whether visitors are willing to pay to enter Lamington National Park and under what circumstances they would do so. First a sample of visitors is asked a general (normative) question as to whether visitors should pay to visit Lamington National Park and in another question (positive) they are asked whether they would be more willing to pay if the money collected would be invested in the park to improve visitor facilities and conservation work. The results show that visitors are more willing to accept the ‘user-pays’ principle if the money will be used for the benefit of the national park and its visitors. It was found that foreigners are more in support of a ‘user-pays’ fee than Australians, and among Australians, those visitors from Queensland are the least willing to accept the idea of a ‘user-pays’ fee to enter the park. The results indicate that if visitors can be shown the benefits (both for visitors and for conservation) of charging an entry fee, then visitors are more likely to support such a concept than when they are unaware of the benefits of a user-fee. The study shows that on average foreigners are willing to pay more than Australians. Finally, the regression results identify significant factors that influence respondents attitudes about whether or not visitors should pay to visit Lamington National Park. They also specify suggested amounts to visit the national park.

“Can’t buy me love” — Public Policy Implications of Cattanach v. Melchior

he question of whether compensation could be awarded for raising a healthy child born as the result of a doctor’s negligence was recently examined by the High Court of Australia in Cattanach v. Melchior (2003) (hereafter ‘Melchior’). the case involved litigation brought by Kerry and Craig Melchior, a married Brisbane couple, against an obstetrician and gynaecologist, Dr Stephen Cattanach. In 1992 he had performed a tubal ligation on Kerry Melchior. She sought the procedure because, having given birth to two healthy daughters, she and her husband had decided they did not want more children. Four years after the sterilisation procedure, at age 44, Kerry Melchior became pregnant. This happened because both she and her doctor mistakenly believed she only had one fallopian tube, and he had only clipped that tube in the operation. Kerry Melchior carried the pregnancy to term and in 1997 gave birth to a healthy son, Jordan. Kerry and Craig Melchior initiated legal proceedings in both tort and contract in respect of the failed sterilisation, against Stephen Cattanach and the State of Queensland, as the authority responsible for the public hospital where the procedure was performed. The action in contract was not pursued, but the trial judge agreed the doctor had been negligent in respect of his provision of advice about the risks of further conception. She awarded around $103 000 damages to Kerry Melchior in relation to the pregnancy and birth, $3 000 to her husband for ‘loss of consortium’ associated with the pregnancy and birth, and around $105 000 damages to both plaintiffs for the cost of raising Jordan to age 18. The defendants appealed unsuccessfully against the last component only of this damages award — compensation for the cost of bringing up the child — to the Queensland Court of Appeal, and then to the High Court. By a majority of four (Justices McHugh, Gummow, Kirby and Callinan) to three (Chief Justice Gleeson and Justices Hayne and Heydon), in July 2003 the High Court upheld the original award of damages. Before the High Court’s decision Australian legal authority on whether damages could be awarded in these circumstances was limited and inconclusive. Two Queensland cases had allowed recovery for the cost of raising a healthy child born as a result of medical negligence — Dahl v. Purnell (1992) and Veivers v. Connolly (1995). The NSW Court of Appeal subsequently addressed the question in CES v. Superclinics (1995), denying recovery by a 2:1 majority. The High Court of Australia granted special leave to appeal against this last decision, in Nafte v. CES (1996), but did not ever hear the case as the parties settled out of Natasha Cica is a Lecturer at the School of Professional Communication, University of Canberra and a Fellow at the Centre for Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics, Charles Sturt University.

Pollutant Concentrations in Road Runoff: Southeast Queensland Case Study

This paper examines the results of research into the pollutants in runoff from road pavement surfaces following natural rainfall events. Road runoff water quality was monitored at 21 sites centering around Brisbane, in southeast Queensland, Australia. The sites were selected according to traffic volumes, surrounding land use, pavement surface type, ease of access, and commercial vehicle percentage. Bridge sites were chosen for convenience of sample collection and minimized infrastructure modification. First flush grab samplers were permanently installed at each site to collect the first 20 l of runoff from one of the bridge drainage scuppers. The runoff samples were tested for a number of heavy metals, hydrocarbons, pesticides, and other physical characteristics. The observed results fall within the ranges of concentrations reported internationally and nationally but do not typically follow the 30,000 average annual daily traffic results reported in the United States. Traffic volumes have not been found to be the best indicator of road runoff pollutant concentrations. Interevent duration has been found to be a significant factor for pollutant concentrations. Sites incorporating exit lanes have recorded higher concentrations of acid-extractable copper and zinc, tending to support the hypothesis that brake pad and tire wear caused by rapid deceleration contributes to the concentrations of these metals in road runoff. Laser particle sizing has shown that a significant proportion of the sediment found in the runoff is smaller than 100 micrometers. However, these particulates do settle in water within 24 hours, under laboratory conditions. This may be due to the presence of heavy metals.

Compensation for Taking of Natural Resource Interests: Principles and Practices in Recent Queensland Cases

Designation of new protected areas, introduction of new environmental regulations and resumption of land for infrastructure development lead to expropriation of natural resources or limitations on private property rights. ‘Takings’ by government may be justified when the social gain exceeds the private loss. Important issues then arise as to compensation policy. This article examines economic aspects of takings and limitations of property rights to natural resources. Compensation decisions by government with respect to three case studies in Queensland are reviewed. The nature and extent of compensation varied widely in these cases, and lack of clearly enunciated policies by government is apparent. It is probably impractical for government to set out clear guidelines to compensation for the takings of resources interests, although some reduction in uncertainty appear to be desirable.

Marketing Decision Support Systems and Australian Businesses: A Queensland Case Study and Implications Towards 2000

AbstractLittle is known about the extent to which the Marketing Decision Support System (MDSS) technology is currently used in Australia, or about the scope for the technology in Australia towards the year 2000. This paper reports the results of recent survey research into MDSS in Queensland by industry sector (agriculture and mining, manufacturing, construction, and services). The results suggest that there is an urgent need to boost the pace of MDSS development in all industry sectors, and that this should be given a high priority in government policy initiatives to enhance Australia's competitive advantage. It is possible, otherwise, that the present gap in information usage between Australia and its competitors will widen, with consequent negative implications for the nation's current account deficit, foreign debt and unemployment.

Marketing Decision Support Systems and Australian Businesses: A Queensland Case Study and Implications Towards 2000

AbstractLittle is known about the extent to which the Marketing Decision Support System (MDSS) technology is currently used in Australia, or about the scope for the technology in Australia towards the year 2000. This paper reports the results of recent survey research into MDSS in Queensland by industry sector (agriculture and mining, manufacturing, construction, and services). The results suggest that there is an urgent need to boost the pace of MDSS development in all industry sectors, and that this should be given a high priority in government policy initiatives to enhance Australia's competitive advantage. It is possible, otherwise, that the present gap in information usage between Australia and its competitors will widen, with consequent negative implications for the nation's current account deficit, foreign debt and unemployment.

Teaching and Learning about Managing People: human resource management for education settings ‐ a Queensland case

ABSTRACT This article describes and illustrates the development of a human resource management (HRM) elective specifically for educators who are aspiring to management positions in various education settings from early childhood to TAFE College. The unit is part of a graduate diploma offered within the Faculty of Education at Queensland University of Technology. It briefly outlines the linkages between management literature and education, and then moves on to argue the necessity for HRM studies in postgraduate education courses. The second part of the paper describes the unit we developed and the adult learning principles which underpinned our teaching. Finally, the paper examines some of the lessons learned from teaching the unit.

Resources development or instream protection? The case of Queensland, Australia

In Queensland, Australia, instream resources planning ranges from "fragmentary" to overlooked. But the State of Queensland, with engineer dominant water management, is only a little behind some other Australian States and Western countries in evaluating the environmental uses and values of river systems. Management is pragmatic about its abundant water endowment! Highly contrasting biophysical environments, from arid to tropical rainforest, as well as a dominance of ephemeral river systems should not preclude instream assessment. The new coastal $A430 million, Burdekin Falls Dam, the "1800's dream" has radically altered that river and delta region for economically amorphous agricultural purposes and, seemingly, to encourage crocodiles to recreate. In comparison, the "urbanised" Brisbane River is the focus of southern state water use competition issues such as flooding, eutrophication, turbidity, public access, preservation of river islands, sand and gravel mining, and recreation. A veritable host of river related management authorities preside!

Some Queensland Cases

Some Queensland Cases