Resource Management & Sustainability – Key Vocabulary

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering Australian resource management, mining impacts, renewable energy, waste strategies, sustainability concepts, and Indigenous land stewardship discussed in the lecture notes.

Renewable Resource

A natural resource that can be replenished on a human timescale, such as solar, wind, water, and biomass energy.

Agricultural Resources (Terrestrial)

Land-based farming products including wool, wheat and beef produced across Australia’s coastal and inland regions.

Aquaculture

The cultivation of aquatic organisms (fish, shellfish, algae) for food; worth about $3 billion per year in Australia.

Plantation Forestry

Managed forests grown on 730 000 ha in Australia for timber, paper and carbon storage.

Murray-Darling River Basin

Australia’s largest irrigation region, supplying two-thirds of the nation’s irrigated agriculture.

Photovoltaic System

Solar-cell technology that converts sunlight directly into electricity; widely adopted on Australian rooftops.

Solar Farm

Large-scale installation of solar panels; more than 60 were under construction in Australia in 2019.

Wind Power

Electricity generated by wind turbines; in 2018 supplied one-third of Australia’s renewable energy.

Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric Scheme

Major hydro-power project using water flow to generate renewable electricity in southeast Australia.

Open-Pit (Open-Cut) Mining

Surface mining technique involving removal of overburden to access ore, causing significant land disturbance.

Underground Mining

Extraction of ore through tunnels beneath Earth’s surface; risks include land subsidence and soil contamination.

Offshore Drilling

Extraction of oil or gas from beneath the ocean floor; decommissioned rigs may be converted to artificial reefs.

Onshore Drilling

Oil or gas extraction on land; wells are sealed with cement plugs after closure to prevent leaks.

Overburden

Waste rock and soil removed to expose ore in surface mining; can cause erosion and acidification.

Reclamation

Processes that restore mined land, including contouring, revegetation, pit-lake creation and waste-dump covering.

Seed Bank

Collection of native plant seeds used to revegetate and restore ecosystems after disturbance.

Geothermal Energy

Heat extracted from Earth’s interior (hot water/steam) to drive turbines and produce electricity.

Fumarole

An opening near a volcano emitting steam and gases; indicator of geothermal potential.

Geyser

Hot-spring feature that periodically ejects water and steam; potential geothermal resource site.

Steam Turbine

Rotating machine driven by pressurised steam to generate electricity in geothermal and other power plants.

Landfill

Waste disposal method that buries solid waste; risks include methane generation and leachate pollution.

Leachate

Contaminated liquid produced when water percolates through landfill waste, carrying heavy metals and toxins.

Anaerobic Digester

Closed vessel where microbes break down organic waste to produce biogas (methane) and nutrient-rich digestate.

Biogas

Methane-rich gas produced from anaerobic digestion of organic matter; can fuel generators or heaters.

Sea Dumping

Historic practice of disposing or incinerating waste at sea, leading to oxygen depletion and marine toxicity.

Recycling

Processing of used materials into new products, reducing raw-material demand but requiring energy input.

Composting

Biological decomposition of organic waste into nutrient-rich soil conditioner used in agriculture and gardens.

Sustainable Development

Development that meets present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs.

Overharvesting

Exploiting a natural resource beyond its maximum sustainable yield, risking depletion or species extinction.

Eutrophication

Nutrient enrichment of water bodies causing algal blooms, oxygen depletion and loss of aquatic life.

Firestick Farming

Traditional Aboriginal practice of controlled burning to promote biodiversity and enhance hunting grounds.

Totem

A natural object or species that individuals or groups are culturally obliged to protect within Aboriginal lore.

Aboriginal Land Rights (NT) Act 1976

Legislation enabling Traditional Owners to claim land where continuous cultural connection can be proven.

Mabo Case

1992 High Court decision recognising Native Title rights of the Meriam people, overturning terra nullius.

Local Action 21

UN initiative encouraging local governments to implement Agenda 21 for sustainable community development.

Sustainability Advantage Program

NSW scheme helping organisations embed sustainability, cut resource use and save money.

Shoalhaven Solid Waste Management

Regional project converting dairy manure to biogas and electricity via anaerobic methane digestion.

Mechanical Heat Treatment

Bioelektra process that sterilises, dries and sorts mixed waste into recyclable fractions.

Gross Pollutant Trap

Stormwater device that captures large debris before it enters waterways, reducing pollution.

Biofiltration System

Engineered soil and vegetation setup that removes nutrients and contaminants from stormwater.

Yapa Employment

Commitment in Granites NT gold-mine agreement to provide jobs for Warlpiri (Yapa) Traditional Owners.