Skip to main content Skip to main navigation Skip to search

Queensland and NSW floods 2022

Visit recovery.gov.au to see what help is available.

Close
Home

Top navigation main

  • News & media
  • Jobs
  • Ministers
  • Contact us
Main menu

AWE Main

  • Climate change
    Climate change Driving climate action, science and innovation so we are ready for the future.
    • Climate science and adaptation
    • Australia's climate change strategies
    • Emissions reduction
    • Emissions reporting
    • International commitments
    • Climate Active
    • Climate change publications and data
    • Australia’s National Greenhouse Accounts (Emissions Data)
    Stronger action on climate change

    Stronger action on climate change

    See how the Australian Government is committed to taking more ambitious action on climate change.

    Find out more

  • Energy
    Energy Building a secure and sustainable energy system for all Australians.
    • Energy policy in Australia
    • Energy and Climate Change Ministerial Council
    • Renewable energy
    • Energy publications
    • energy.gov.au
    • Energy Rating
    • Commercial Building Disclosure Program
    • Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS)
    • Your Home
    Decorative image

    Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme

    Guiding energy-efficient design and construction for a net-zero future

    Find out more about NatHERS

  • Environment
    Environment Improving stewardship and sustainable management of Australia’s environment.
    • Bushfire recovery
    • Climate change and the environment
    • Biodiversity
    • EPBC Act
    • Environmental information and data
    • International activities
    • Invasive species
    • Land
    • Marine
    • Partnerships
    • Protection
    • Report a breach of environment law
    • Threatened species & ecological communities
    • Waste and recycling
    • Wildlife trade
    Decorative image

    Read our Nature Positive Plan

    Our plan sets out the Australian Government’s commitment to environmental law reform

    Find out more

  • Water
    Water Improving the sustainable management of Australia’s water supply for industry, the environment and communities.
    • Coal, Coal seam gas (CSG) and water
    • Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder
    • Water policy and resources
    • Wetlands
    Water matters

    Water Matters

    Keep up with the latest news on the department's work in managing Australia's water resources.

    Read the latest edition here

  • Parks and heritage
    Parks and heritage Managing Australia’s iconic national parks, historic places and living landscapes.
    • Australian Marine Parks
    • Australian National Botanic Gardens
    • Booderee National Park
    • Kakadu National Park
    • Christmas Island National Park
    • National parks
    • Norfolk Island National Park
    • Heritage
    • Pulu Keeling National Park
    • The Great Barrier Reef
    • Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park
    The reef

    Great Barrier Reef

    Australia is protecting and conserving this World Heritage Area.

    Find out more

  • Science and research
    Science and research Undertaking research and collecting data to support informed decisions and policies.
    • Climate change
    • Australia's biological resources
    • National Environmental Science Program (NESP)
    • Office of the Science Convenor
    • Australian Biological Resource Study (ABRS)
    • State of the Environment (SoE) reporting
    • Bird and bat banding
    • Supervising Scientist
    Our climate is changing

    Our climate is changing

    Find out more about how climate science helps Australians with the impacts of climate change.

    Find out more

  • About us
    About us We lead Australia’s response to climate change and sustainable energy use, and protect our environment, heritage and water.
    • Accountability and reporting
    • Assistance, grants and tenders
    • Fees and charges
    • News and media
    • Our commitment to you
    • People and jobs
    • What we do
    • Who we are
    Decorative image

    Juukan Gorge response

    Read the Australian Government's response to the destruction at Juukan Gorge and the recommendations

    Read the response

  • Online services
    Online services We do business with you using online platforms. This makes it easier for you to meet your legal requirements.
Department of Climate Change, Energy, Enviroment and Water

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Science and research
  3. Supervising Scientist
  4. Supervising Scientist publications
  5. Supervising Scientist Reports
  6. Key Knowledge Needs

Sidebar first - EN - Science

  • SS publications
    • Internal Reports
    • Key Knowledge Needs

Key Knowledge Needs

The Key Knowledge Needs (KKNs) articulate the relevant knowledge and tools required, primarily through research and monitoring, to ensure:

  1. the environment and people of the Alligator Rivers Region (ARR) are protected from the impacts of uranium mining; and
  2. upon reaching end-of-life, uranium mines in the ARR are rehabilitated to the standard required by the Commonwealth and the community.

Identified via an ecological risk assessment, the KKNs provide the basis upon which the Supervising Scientist and Energy Resources of Australia Ltd (ERA), determine their environmental research programs.

The KKNs have been endorsed by the Alligator Rivers Region Technical Committee (ARRTC) and are revised and updated from time to time as research to answer KKNs is completed, and new knowledge needs arise. A formal amendment process, including review by ARRTC and the Ranger Minesite Technical Committee (MTC), has been developed to ensure that any changes to the KKNs are undertaken in consultation with all relevant stakeholders.

Scope

The KKNs originally encompassed the knowledge needs for all past, present and prospective uranium mining activities in the ARR. These include the rehabilitated Nabarlek mine and mines of the South Alligator Valley, Jabiluka and exploration sites. However, the focus at present remains firmly on the operational Ranger uranium mine, in operation since 1981, and this emphasis is reflected in the current endorsed set of KKNs.

The KKNs, and associated research projects, have been closely linked to the Ranger rehabilitation schedule to determine when the information will be required.

A consolidated list of KKNs was first published in 2017. The KKNs are revised periodically as they are modified or addressed. See below for the latest revision of the KKNs.

Publications

  • Key Knowledge Needs November 2020 - 2020
  • Key Knowledge Needs - Monitoring Method Optimisation November 2019 - 2019
  • Key Knowledge Needs November 2017: Uranium mining in the Alligator Rivers Region - 2017
  • Appendix 3 Alligator Rivers Region Technical Committee Key Knowledge Needs 2008-2010 - 2017
Thanks for your feedback.
Thanks! Your feedback has been submitted.

We aren't able to respond to your individual comments or questions.
To contact us directly phone us or submit an online inquiry

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Please verify that you are not a robot.

Skip

Footer

  • Contact us
  • Accessibility
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • FOI
Last updated: 03 October 2021

© Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.