Gold production in Victoria is estimated to significantly increase over the next few years due to higher outputs from current mining activity as well as the opening of new mines. The major impact of these mining operations on the disturbed landscape is the creation of repositories for the fine tailings once the gold has been extracted. The tailings storage facilities cover approximately 100 hectares which will require strategies to create landforms which support self perpetuating ecosystems.
The Applied Ecology Research Group and Environmental Chemistry in partnership with Stawell Gold Mine are involved in research to understand the various aspects of plant establishment on these hostile substrates and subsequently provide 'green' prescriptive solutions as part of the major aims to render these structures safe and stable.

We are investigating the feasibility of utilizing native grass species as a major component for the phytostabilization of tailings impoundment surfaces. This work will be in collaboration with a native grass seed producing company. The focus of the study will be the tolerance of various grass species to various stressors e.g. exposure to arsenic, salinity from the oxidation of the mine tailings, as well as to other environmental conditions such as drought and waterlogging which affect the resiliency of developing vegetation communities on these sites.