So yes, plant the lakes, beautify them. But don’t think these flooded pits give coal some kind of retrospective redemption. Better than planting anew is not clear-felling in in the first place. And better than filling holes with water is not mining coal, henceforth. At all.
— Read on www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/the-coal-hard-facts-you-can-t-fill-pits-with-water-unless-it-rains-20191227-p53n33.html