Restoring land. Rebuilding ecosystems. Meeting closure obligations.
Mine site rehabilitation is one of the most ecologically complex and regulatory-demanding services in the environmental consulting industry. Getting it right requires deep botanical knowledge, an understanding of local soil and hydrology, strong relationships with Aboriginal communities and Traditional Owners, and a long-term commitment to achieving sustainable outcomes. Trace Ecology brings all of that to every rehabilitation project we undertake.
We work with mining companies, exploration companies and government agencies across Western Australia and the Northern Territory to develop and implement mine site rehabilitation programmes that meet the requirements of the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS), the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) and the conditions of project approvals. From initial rehabilitation planning and progressive rehabilitation during operations through to final landform design, revegetation and mine closure sign-off, Trace Ecology manages every stage of the rehabilitation process.
Our rehabilitation approach is built on native species — the right species, sourced and propagated correctly, planted in the right conditions. We collaborate closely with local Aboriginal communities, Traditional Owners and Native Title Holders to source seeds, saplings and deadwood from the surrounding landscape, establishing on-site nurseries that ensure species provenance and support habitat connectivity. This approach accelerates ecological recovery, improves long-term vegetation establishment success and creates genuine employment and capacity-building opportunities for Aboriginal communities. Where appropriate, we integrate traditional ecological knowledge into rehabilitation design — combining indigenous land management practice with contemporary environmental science to achieve outcomes that go beyond minimum regulatory requirements.
Our botanists and ecologists conduct detailed pre-rehabilitation surveys to characterise the vegetation communities that existed prior to disturbance, informing species selection and community reconstruction targets. We develop rehabilitation management plans that set measurable success criteria and monitoring protocols, and we track rehabilitation progress against those criteria through regular field assessment and reporting. Where soil contamination or chemical remediation is required, our environmental remediation team provides targeted treatment strategies to address pollution, restore soil function and support revegetation.
We use drone technology to map rehabilitation areas at scale, monitor vegetation establishment from above, and identify areas requiring intervention — enabling efficient, data-driven management of large and remote rehabilitation sites across the Pilbara, Goldfields, Kimberley and Northern Territory.
Trace Ecology is a division of Trace Enterprises — Perth's only fully integrated heritage, environmental and planning consultancy. Where your rehabilitation programme also requires heritage surveys or environmental management plans, our Trace Archaeology and broader Trace Ecology teams are ready to step in.
Every rehabilitation programme starts with the right plan.
Whether you need a rehabilitation management plan, progressive rehabilitation support or mine closure services, Trace Ecology is ready to help. Talk to our team today — no obligation.