Indoor rainforest maker to transform former Australian coal mine

The creator of one of the world's largest indoor rainforests, UK-based charity The Eden project, has partnered with aluminum giant Alcoa (NYSE:AA) to build a $150 million eco-tourism attraction at the company’s former Anglesea coal mine, in Australia.

The parties estimate the project could create 300 full-time jobs and attract thousands of visitors if it gains the support of the community, finds funding via investors, and passes the planning and approvals process.

At the moment, Alcoa is seeking community feedback about the proposed rehabilitation of the shuttered coal mine and power plant, which would be turned into gardens surrounding a giant lake.

The non-profit organization has experience in this matter,as it has already turned a former quarry in Cornwall, England, into a series of gardens that feature large domes, known as biomes. The eco-tourism project has attracted more than 20 million visitors over the past twenty years.