The Mineral Resources (Sustainable Development) Act 1990 requires anyone holding a mining licence to include a rehabilitation plan as part of the Work Plan. The licensee must prepare that rehabilitation plan in consultation with the landowner. The plan should include the stabilisation of the land and the return of agricultural land to the state determined in the rehabilitation plan following consultation with all stakeholders including the landowner and occupier.

Aspects of the rehabilitation could include topsoil respreading, revegetation (including native vegetation), treating contaminated water, screening and general landscaping.