We bring together diverse partners to help solve the challenge of mine closure and post-mine transitions.

The challenge: from closure to transformation

Mining should begin with the end in mind, with post-mine land use discussions featuring in decisions throughout the mine’s lifetime. Our work considers closure and post-mine transitions as key features in the mining lifecycle, particularly considering the mine’s life continues in another form after closure.

The mining lifecycle not only includes the closure of the mine, but also activities post-closure, such as rehabilitation, asset transfer, liability transfer, decommissioning, capital investment in economic reuse, and community transitions. Our work supports the shift from focussing on closure to focussing on transformation of the mined estate. Whether that transformation results in a recreational lake, a mixed land-use of agriculture and renewable energy, rehabilitated land, or a new commercial or tourism hotspot, each mining estate has its own context and complexities to take into account.

A unique model for a unique challenge

The Cooperative Research Centre for Transformations in Mining Economies (CRC TiME) is an independent research organisation bringing together diverse partners to help reimagine and transform what happens when mining ends for the better.

Our focus, regional partnerships, national footprint and global reach enable us to tackle the most complex challenges associated with mine closure and post-mine transitions. Central to this is how decisions across the mine life affect what is possible in the future: socially, economically and environmentally.

Since CRC TiME’s establishment in 2020, our work has helped reshape the understanding of mine closure and transformations.

This includes, through landmark research, identifying the estimated $4b to $8 billion annual market for mine closure solutions equipment, technology and services. We are supported by the Australian Government Department of Industry, Science and Resources Cooperative Research Centre Program.

An impactful research agenda

Our research agenda is structured around four thematic programs of work:

The first four research programs form the spine of our activities and encompass themes common to the main post-mine transition challenges. Each program is led by a Program Leader and holds multiple research projects focussed on its theme. In the fifth program, projects that span across all programs – like mine closure education and training, and Indigenous inclusion – are treated as cross-cutting.

Our work

We work across various dimensions including:

• barriers to mined land and infrastructure repurposing.
• policy and regulation, such as land tenure and pathways to relinquishment.
• economic diversification and transformation, such as through the mine closure solutions industry.
• enabling First Nations leadership and realisation of benefits.
• new ways of understanding value, such as Natural Capital Accounting.
• land rehabilitation and environmental stewardship.

Our work is broad, given the industry’s size, scale and impacts. It includes projects:

• at mine and rehabilitation sites.
• with regions undergoing or planning for future transitions, including in the Latrobe Valley and Bowen Basin.
• at national scale.
• with international involvement.