Anticipating closure of bauxite refineries in Western Australia: the water quality implications of a proposed new design in residue storage areas. Refining bauxite is a major industrial activity in Australia, with economic benefits and a high potential for environmental impact. Many bauxite refineries are sited in rural areas. Community interests are given high priority in developing strategies for long-term storage of residue. These community interests include minimal impact on farmland, water, ....Anticipating closure of bauxite refineries in Western Australia: the water quality implications of a proposed new design in residue storage areas. Refining bauxite is a major industrial activity in Australia, with economic benefits and a high potential for environmental impact. Many bauxite refineries are sited in rural areas. Community interests are given high priority in developing strategies for long-term storage of residue. These community interests include minimal impact on farmland, water, health and natural ecosystems. Some of the refinery residue can be re-used in applications such as road construction, thus reducing the need to find other materials for this purpose. This project will investigate new residue management practices which could lead to better ways of establishing a sustainable vegetation cover and avoiding the impact of drainage water on the environment.Read moreRead less
Unravelling the rhizosphere redox-cycling of iron, sulphur and carbon in re-flooded acidic wetlands. This project will reveal how major re-flooding will influence the cycling of iron, sulphur and carbon in re-flooded acidic, freshwater wetlands. By resolving current biogeochemical uncertainties, this project will generate the necessary knowledge platform to underpin wise long-term management of these sensitive and unique landscapes.
Species traits, substrates and stormwater grates: improving the health of urban trees by using polluted stormwater as a resource. This project uses plant traits to select existing and novel tree species for glasshouse studies to quantify the uptake of stormwater and polluting nutrients as well as drought tolerance in stormwater street tree systems. In collaboration with water industry and tree nursery industry partners and a syndicate of local councils, the project aims to install passive stormw ....Species traits, substrates and stormwater grates: improving the health of urban trees by using polluted stormwater as a resource. This project uses plant traits to select existing and novel tree species for glasshouse studies to quantify the uptake of stormwater and polluting nutrients as well as drought tolerance in stormwater street tree systems. In collaboration with water industry and tree nursery industry partners and a syndicate of local councils, the project aims to install passive stormwater street tree systems into existing suburbs and new greenfield developments in Melbourne. Models will be used to design and predict the performance of these stormwater street tree systems, and the glasshouse/field research outputs are expected to refine the leading industry and government relevant urban catchment model.Read moreRead less
A next generation spatially distributed model for soil profile dynamics and paedogenesis incorporating soil geochemistry and organic matter. Soil is the interface between the land, atmosphere, and biosphere. We are unable to fully characterise it because it varies in space and data collection is difficult. This project will develop models of soil formation to understand the spatial distribution of soil and how this distribution links with its biogeochemical role in the environment.
The big flood: will it happen again? If we could better predict the frequency of extreme flood events, would we be better prepared to safeguard human lives and settlements? This project provides a time-line of flood activity in the south east Queensland region extending back thousands of years using state-of-the-art dating techniques and seeks to identifiy those settlements most at risk.