Overview
Background
Corinne seeks to understand the organizing practices and processes that gradually and invisibly create risks that can worsen over time to become catastrophic. These ‘insidious risks’ were the focus of Corinne’s PhD in the UQ Business School where she identified three ways, on a spectrum of ways these risks are managed: blinkered, law-abiding and attentive. With more than 30 years’ experience in the mining sector, government, consulting and research, Corinne built upon her earth sciences background in mine rehabilitation and closure to become a qualitative researcher through her PhD. This provided a new lens and insights on how organisations manage elongated insidious risks, not only for mine affected water and land disturbance in mining but also during the progressive failure of the insurance market for extreme weather, in her postdoctoral research. In a voluntary capacity Corinne formed and led an ISO standards working group to finalise ISO 24419 Managing Mining Legacies in 2023 providing the first international standard on this topic together with case studies and a bibliography. She represents AusIMM in her standards work. Since 2019 Corinne has been a Board Member of the Victorian Government’s Mine Land Rehabilitation Authority providing oversight for three brown coal mine closures in the Latrobe Valley. Prior to her PhD Corinne developed the field of research in managing abandoned/legacy mines in the Centre for Mined Land Rehabilitation, SMI following her Churchill Fellowship research in 2009.
Availability
- Dr Corinne Unger is:
- Not available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Diploma of Education & Teaching, Macquarie University
- Bachelor of Earth Sciences, Macquarie University
- Postgraduate Diploma of Physical Geography and Environmental Geoscience, Macquarie University
- Doctor of Philosophy of Management Studies, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Risk Management
Insidious risks are slow growing inconspicuous risks, socially constructed by networks of people interacting with objects. These risks can grow unseen to become potentially catastrophic. In a mining context, Corinne examined how the insidious risks of land disturbance and mine affected water are managed. This research made visible what was previously hidden so that an audit of organisational activities can detect a catastrophe in the making.
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Practice theory
Corinne applied Schatzki's practice theory to the social phenomenon of insidious risk management and continues to developed her social science expertise by applying practice and process perspectives in strategy research. Practice theory enables the complexity of social phenomena, and their dynamic and evolving nature to be captured and understood, thereby equipping managers with a means of intervening constructively and strategically.
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Abandoned /legacy mine management
There are estimated to be in excess of 50,000 abandoned mines in Australia from very small to large polluting sites with more than $2 billion in liability from these legacies in QLD and NT alone. Building upon Corinne's Churchill Fellowship research and experience as an abandoned mine manager for the Queensland government she with colleagues at the Centre for Mined Land Rehabilitation developed a jurisdictional maturity model. This model provides guidance on how to successfully manage mining legacies, thus providing an implementation tool for Australia's national policy for managing abandoned mines.
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Mine rehabilitation and closure
Effective life-of-mine planning ensures there is a vision that is being implemented to achieve the post-mining landscape which is safe, stable, non-polluting and has sustainable land uses. Stakeholder participation is essential if the social connections to, and local knowledge about, mines are to be understood and incorporated into rehabilitation and closure. When regulatory requirements address only the biophysical aspects of transitioning through closure, the social dimensions are overlooked.
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Beneficial post-mining land use
Many opportunities exist in Australia for environmental and socio-economic regeneration after mining. Mining heritage conservation and its adaptive re-use have rejuvenated communities in Cornwall England and former East Germany when integrated with regenerative planning. The value of some mines in Australia have been extended via secondary mining or tourism uses, while indigenous reconciliation needs to be at the heart of mine rehabilitation and transition where mines did not have free prior and informed consent from the start, such as at the Rum Jungle legacy mine.
Research impacts
Corinne's research developed the phenomenon of insidious risk management that explains and integrates past risk management research of particular features of this type of inconspicuous and slow growing risk, formerly studied as latent, crescive, creeping, incubating and slow-developing catastrophic risk. Her doctoral research makes the less visible, visible and provides a means of detecting a catastrophe in the making so it can be intervened upon, in preference to only learning of the related activities and participants through formal inquiries that retrospectively analyse catastrophes.
Prior research reveals the dynamic and evolving practice of mine rehabilitation and closure over 40 years in Australia. Corinne's research shows how the practice is shaped by those within the organisation together with external stakeholders. Her retrosepective study also informed the Senate inquiry into 'Rehabilitation of mining and resources projects as it relates to Commonwealth responsibilities' (2019). Unger, C. J., Everingham, J., & Bond, C. J. (2020). Transition or transformation: shifting priorities and stakeholders in Australian mined land rehabilitation and closure. Australasian Journal of Environmental Management, 1-30. doi:10.1080/14486563.2020.1719440
Corinne's Churchill Fellowship research provides guidance on leading practice abandoned mine rehabilitation and post-mining land use that can be applied in Australia. With colleagues Lechner, Kenway, Glenn and Walton at the CMLR at UQ in 2015 Corinne developed a Jurisdictional maturity model for risk management accountability and continual improvement of abandoned mine remediation programs. This model provides an implementation framework for Australian governments to apply Australia's Strategic Framework for managing abandoned mines.
Works
Search Professor Corinne Unger’s works on UQ eSpace
2003
Book
Rehabilitation plan for the Mount Morgan Minesite
Unger, C. J., Laurencont, T., Keliher, L. M., McCombe, C. and Bartley, G. (2003). Rehabilitation plan for the Mount Morgan Minesite. Rockhampton, Australia: Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Mount Morgan Mine Rehabilitation Project.
2003
Conference Publication
Towards Achieving Sustainable Water Management for an Acidic Open Cut Pit at Mount Morgan,Queensland,
Jones D R, Laurencont T and Unger C J (2003). Towards Achieving Sustainable Water Management for an Acidic Open Cut Pit at Mount Morgan,Queensland,. 6th ICARD International Conference for Acid Rock Drainage, Cairns, Queensland, 14-17 July 2003.
2003
Conference Publication
Overview of Mount Morgan Minesite rehabilitation project
Unger, C. J., Laurencont, T. and Keliher, L. M. (2003). Overview of Mount Morgan Minesite rehabilitation project. Dee River Conference, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, 7 November 2003.
2003
Conference Publication
Rehabilitation Planning for a large historic abandoned mine, Mount Morgan Mine Central Queensland, Minerals Council of Australia (MCA/ACMER), Workshop on the Management and Remediation of Abandoned Mines 14 November.
Unger C J, Laurencont T and Keliher L M (2003). Rehabilitation Planning for a large historic abandoned mine, Mount Morgan Mine Central Queensland, Minerals Council of Australia (MCA/ACMER), Workshop on the Management and Remediation of Abandoned Mines 14 November.. Workshop on the Management and Remediation of Abandoned Mines 14 November, Brisbane, 14 November 2003. Australian Centre for Mining Environmental Research (ACMER) (and Minerals Council of Australia?).
2002
Journal Article
Mount Morgan rehabilitation project overview
Carloss, B. and Unger, C. J. (2002). Mount Morgan rehabilitation project overview. Queensland Government Mining Journal.
2000
Edited Outputs
Mount Morgan Mine Rehabilitation Planning Workshop Proceedings
Unger C J and Paddon B eds. (2000). Mount Morgan Mine Rehabilitation Planning Workshop Proceedings. Mount Morgan Mine Rehabilitation Planning Workshop, Mount Morgan, 8-9 May 2000. Rockhampton: Queensland Department of Mines and Energy.
1998
Conference Publication
Tailings rehabilitation at Ranger uranium mine. Workshop on Radiological Aspects of the Rehabilitation of Contaminated Sites, Darwin/Jabiru,
Woods P H, du Preez H W H and Unger C J (1998). Tailings rehabilitation at Ranger uranium mine. Workshop on Radiological Aspects of the Rehabilitation of Contaminated Sites, Darwin/Jabiru,. Workshop on Radiological Aspects of the Rehabilitation of Contaminated Sites, Darwin and Jabiru, 20-22 June 1996.
1996
Journal Article
Landform erosion assessment
Evans, K., Saynor, M., Willgoose, G. and Unger, C. J. (1996). Landform erosion assessment. Mine Environment Management, 23-25.
1996
Journal Article
A new approach to soil survey applied to a mining feasibility study in the wet-dry tropics
Unger, C. J., Nisbet, H. S. and Mitchell, P. (1996). A new approach to soil survey applied to a mining feasibility study in the wet-dry tropics. Australian Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 9 (2).
1996
Conference Publication
The construction and performance of large-scale wetlands at the Ranger uranium mine. 3rd International and 21st Annual Environmental Workshop 1996 Proceedings, Volume II, Minerals Council of Australia. (Canberra, ACT, Australia).
Jones D R, Inman M, Ragusa S, Shinners S, McAllister R and Unger C (1996). The construction and performance of large-scale wetlands at the Ranger uranium mine. 3rd International and 21st Annual Environmental Workshop 1996 Proceedings, Volume II, Minerals Council of Australia. (Canberra, ACT, Australia).. 3rd International and 21st Annual Environmental Workshop 1996, Newcastle, 1996. Canberra ACT: AMIC - Australian Mining Industry Council.
1996
Book Chapter
(1996) Environmental Management adjacent to a National Park – ERA’s experience at Ranger in the Northern Territory, a Chapter in the book Environmental Management in the Australian Minerals and Energy Industries Principles and Practices,
McNally P, Unger C J and Peters R (1996). (1996) Environmental Management adjacent to a National Park – ERA’s experience at Ranger in the Northern Territory, a Chapter in the book Environmental Management in the Australian Minerals and Energy Industries Principles and Practices,. Environmental Management in the Australian Minerals and Energy Industries Principles and Practices. (pp. 514-530) edited by David Mulligan. Sydney?: University of New South Wales Press.
1996
Conference Publication
Incorporation of landform design and erosion modelling in mine planning at the Ranger mine, Jabiru NT, presented at the 3rd International, 21st Annual Minerals Council of Australia Environmental Workshop 14-18 October 1996, Newcastle, NSW
Unger C J, Evans K, Saynor M and Willgoose G (1996). Incorporation of landform design and erosion modelling in mine planning at the Ranger mine, Jabiru NT, presented at the 3rd International, 21st Annual Minerals Council of Australia Environmental Workshop 14-18 October 1996, Newcastle, NSW. 3rd International, 21st Annual Minerals Council of Australia Environmental Workshop, Newcastle NSW, 14-18 October 1996.
1996
Conference Publication
(1996) Erosion assessment for the post-mining landform at Ranger uranium mine, Northern Territory. In Proceedings Post-mining landform stability and design workshop (Bell, L.C. and McLean, R.W. eds) Brisbane Queensland 18th-20th September pp. 25-32 (Austr
Evans K G, Saynor M J, Willgoose G R and Unger C J (1996). (1996) Erosion assessment for the post-mining landform at Ranger uranium mine, Northern Territory. In Proceedings Post-mining landform stability and design workshop (Bell, L.C. and McLean, R.W. eds) Brisbane Queensland 18th-20th September pp. 25-32 (Austr. Post-mining landform stability and design workshop, Brisbane, Queensland, 18-20 September 1996. Brisbane: Australian Centre for Minesite Rehabilitation Research.
1995
Journal Article
Erosional stability of rehabilitated uranium mine structures incorporating natural landform characteristics, northern tropical Australia
East, T. J., Uren, C. J., Noller, B. N., Cull, R. F., Curley, P. M. and Unger, C. J. (1995). Erosional stability of rehabilitated uranium mine structures incorporating natural landform characteristics, northern tropical Australia. Zeitschrift fuer Geomorphologie, 38 (3), 285-298.
1995
Book
Environmental Monitoring and Performance
Unger C J, McNally P, McQuade C and Waggitt P (1995). Environmental Monitoring and Performance. Canberra, Australia: Environment Australia - Australian Government.
1995
Conference Publication
Performance of constructed wetlands at the Ranger Uranium Mine, presented at National Conference on “Wetlands for Water Quality Control”, Townsville, 25 Sept 1995,
Jones D R, Ragusa S, Unger C J and McAllister R (1995). Performance of constructed wetlands at the Ranger Uranium Mine, presented at National Conference on “Wetlands for Water Quality Control”, Townsville, 25 Sept 1995,. Wetlands for Water Quality Control - national conference, Townsville, 25 September 1995.
1994
Journal Article
Erosional stability of rehabilitated uranium mine structures incorporating natural landform characteristics, northern tropical Australia
East, T. J., Uren, C. J., Noller, B. N., Cull, R. F., Curley, P. M. and Unger, C. J. (1994). Erosional stability of rehabilitated uranium mine structures incorporating natural landform characteristics, northern tropical Australia. Zeitschrift fur Geomorphologie, 38 (3), 283-298.
1993
Conference Publication
Minesite Rehabilitation and final land use options at ERA, Ranger Mine, Australian Institute of Landscape Architects annual conference ‘Ancient Land New Perspectives’, Darwin
Unger C J (1993). Minesite Rehabilitation and final land use options at ERA, Ranger Mine, Australian Institute of Landscape Architects annual conference ‘Ancient Land New Perspectives’, Darwin. Australian Institute of Landscape Architects annual conference, Darwin, 1993.
1993
Conference Publication
Establishing a practical research program at the Ranger Uranium Mine. 18th Annual Environmental Workshop 1993 Proceedings, p170-180. Australian Mining Industry Council. (Canberra, ACT, Australia)
McNally P and Unger C J (1993). Establishing a practical research program at the Ranger Uranium Mine. 18th Annual Environmental Workshop 1993 Proceedings, p170-180. Australian Mining Industry Council. (Canberra, ACT, Australia). 18th Annual Environmental Workshop 1993, Australian Mining Industry Council., Burnie, Tasmania, 1993.
1993
Book Chapter
(1992) Mine tailings rehabilitation in Australia - chapter for international tailings book ed S Bengson, ASSMR
Bell L C, Ward S C, Jones C J, Brooks D R and Unger C J (1993). (1992) Mine tailings rehabilitation in Australia - chapter for international tailings book ed S Bengson, ASSMR. Tailings reclamation (?). (pp. ?-?) edited by Stuart Bengson. USA: American Society for Surface Mine Reclamation (ASSMR).
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Corinne Unger directly for media enquiries about:
- insidious risk management
- ISO standard writing
- managing mining legacies
- mine rehabilitation and closure
- qualitative research
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