On the ground Department of Resources, Queensland

A dark tunnel on the side of a hill, with bats hanging from every surface. This is the image of an abandoned mine that we've come to expect from the movies. But the truth about abandoned mines is much more complex. From gold rushes to ghost towns, the legacy of an abandoned mine can have lasting impacts on the environment, communities and the social license of the resources industry at large.

The department's role is to undertake works to make abandoned mines safe, secure, durable, and productive. This work is prioritised based on the risk to community health and safety, the environment and property. And at the same time, repurpose, and where we can, recommercialise abandoned mines to unearth previously undiscovered treasures.

So how does this all happen?

In this episode, we're talking to the experts Tania Hall, Amanda Stones, Annaliese Mitchell, Kobie Johnson and Mitchell Thompson.

Six states and two territories-this is Australia as we know it today, but before Colonisation, there were over 500 different clan groups or 'nations' around the continent, many with distinctive cultures, beliefs and languages.

The colonisation of Australia had a devastating impact on indigenous people who have lived on this land for over 60,000 years.

It was the momentous Mabo case that finally legally acknowledged the history of Indigenous dispossession in Australia. It abolished the legal fiction of "terra nullius" (a Latin term meaning "land belonging to no one) and altered the foundation of Australian land law.

Australia's Federal Parliament passed the Native Title Act 1993, which established a legal framework for native title claims throughout Australia by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

In this episode, we're going to learn from Kylie, Robin, Deanna and Gerry about some aspects of work conducted by the department, including land rights, and how this can play an important role towards reconciliation.

Always was, Always will be...

New economy minerals is a name coined to describe a range of metals and mineral elements used in many emerging technologies including electric vehicles, renewable energy products, low-emission power sources, consumer devices, and products for the medical, defence and scientific research sectors.

In this episode, we chat to several Resources staff from the Georesources team. Tony Knight, our Chief Government Geologist leads us in with the new economy minerals story, which started with the coalescence of the fourth industrial revolution and the drive towards renewable energy.

We also talk to geophysicists Janelle Simpson and Matthew Greenwood about the work that is being done on the ground to assist the search for new economy minerals.

Director of Minerals Geoscience, Helen Degeling also gives us a glimpse as to where the future is heading, from data to new exploration methods that embrace a more circular economy.

Dating back 150 years and spanning 72,000 kms of our state, our stock route network is a series of roadways and reserves used to move domestic livestock. It may look as simple as moving herds to greener pastures or transporting sheep or cattle, however, the efficient management of this network is equal parts important and complex. Jim Mollison, Mirranie (Mim) Barker, and Jason Reberger share what it's like to manage stock routes and the role we play at Resources to manage livestock in regional communities.

If you'd like to learn more about any of the clips heard in this episode, you can find out more by following the original sources here:
Songlines
60 minutes, moving the mob
ABC Archive Drovers Clip

To view stock routes on Globe

•Log in to Globe at Queensland Globe (information.qld.gov.au)
•Click "Layers" in the left margin, and then click "Add layers"
•Look down the list for the "Farming" layer, and then click the associated down arrow. This will reveal the "stock routes" layer option.
•Click in the box immediately next to "Stock Routes" to activate the layers on the map.
•There is also a down arrow next to Stock Routes where you can view and select different components of the stock route layers (e.g. stock routes vs stock route reserves)
•Note that because stock routes are displayed as their real size, you will need to zoom into the map to see more detail, before the routes will become visible.

To view the location of stock routes across all of Queensland, please refer to the PDF map linked from About the Queensland stock route network.