Towards Zero Harm

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TOWARDS ZERO HARM – A COMPENDIUM OF PAPERS PREPARED FOR THE GLOBAL TAILINGS REVIEW

TOWARDS ZERO HARM – A COMPENDIUM OF PAPERS PREPARED FOR THE GLOBAL TAILINGS REVIEW

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KEY MESSAGES

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The authors would like to acknowledge the partners, speakers and participants who attended the consultation workshops. Financial support to hold the consultation workshops was provided by the Transforming the Mine Lifecycle Programme at UQ, SMI-International Centre of Excellence in Chile, and The University of Cape Town. Special thanks are expressed to Professor Ward Wilson at the University of Alberta, Professor Dirk Van Zyl at the University of British Columbia, Dr Michael Davies of Teck, Dr Luis A. Torres Cruz at the University of the Witwatersrand, Professor Sue Harrison and Associate Professor Jenny Broadhurst at the University of Cape Town, and Hernan Cifuentes of UQ for assistance and support.

1. I ndustry and public sector investment in research have expanded the approaches available to deal with tailings management challenges, but much of this learning remains underutilised. 2. T he University of Queensland, in partnership with a wide range of research and education institutions, is exploring the potential to establish a global research and education consortium to support improved tailings management. 3. T he overarching aim of the consortium would be to develop transdisciplinary knowledge-solutions (science, technology and practices) that address the technical, social, environmental and economic risks of tailings. 4. T he vision of the consortium is a multi-party collaborative initiative of the world’s leading thinkers and practitioners in tailings and mine waste management: researchers, industry professionals, consultants, regulators, civil society and community representatives. 5. A global research consortium on tailings could tackle a bold and globally significant agenda with the potential for meaningful impact. 6. M embers of the consortium would benefit from robust, transdisciplinary, game- changing research with partners that have deep knowledge of the sector. 7. D iscussions are currently underway with Amira Global, an independent minerals research management organisation with a long-track record in the sector, to develop the initiative.