Thiess completes Muswellbrook Mine rehabilitation, leaving lasting community and environmental legacy

Thiess Rehabilitation has successfully delivered the rehabilitation of Muswellbrook Mine in the Upper Hunter Region of New South Wales under a two-year contract with Idemitsu Australia’s Muswellbrook Coal Company, transforming the former open-cut mine into sustainable land for future use. This project brings the Thiess founding story full circle, rehabilitating the site where the Thiess Brothers first pioneered open-cut mining in 1944.

Group Manager, Thiess Rehabilitation, Jonathan Miln said: “Completing the rehabilitation of Muswellbrook Mine is a proud milestone for Thiess, representing the final and enduring legacy of the site. Drawing on our history at Muswellbrook Mine and leveraging our whole-of-mine-life knowledge as well as operational and technical expertise, our team was honoured to return and take on the responsibility of delivering long-term value to both the land and the local community through its post-mining transition.”

Contracted in 2023, Thiess Rehabilitation was engaged to design, develop and deliver tailored, strategic rehabilitation solutions. The project restored 156 hectares to pasture and native ecosystems, relocating more than 12 million bank cubic metres of material across key areas including the coal handling and preparation plant, run‑of‑mine area and pit one.

To achieve this, Thiess Rehabilitation implemented a safe and efficient operation utilising dozer push, excavator and truck fleets, supported by eight controlled blasts. Civil works included constructing new drainage lined with drop structures and contouring, followed by applying compost and seed to promote long‑term land stability and vegetation growth.

Rehabilitation works were completed on schedule, and the team achieved an exceptional safety milestone of 830 consecutive days recordable injury‑free.

This project reflects Thiess’ rehabilitation capabilities and mining expertise, leaving a lasting legacy for the Muswellbrook community.

From early project development through operational phases, our team of miners and environmental experts apply flexible processes, specialised equipment and extensive experience to deliver safe, sustainable outcomes that meet end land-use objectives, comply with regulatory obligations, and address long-term closure requirements for sites of all sizes, commodities and lifecycle stages.