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Project 1.4

Understanding local readiness for closure: initiating a multi-stakeholder participatory approach

Project 1.4 Case Study

Project 1.4 Final Report

Research Program

Regional Economic Development

Project Leader

Sarah MacKenzie

Project ID

1.4

Summary

Around the world, many towns and regions have been founded and developed because of mining activity. When that activity dwindles or ceases altogether, the impact on local communities is complex and multi-faceted. Populations shift, economic linkages change, services adapt, and people’s historic, cultural, familial, and emotional ties to place may be impacted. The impact of mine closure on the immediate community and broader region will be contingent to a large extent upon their dependency on the mine and the existence of alternative social and economic opportunities and structures. To uphold equity and inclusiveness, decisions around closure planning need to ensure that the interests and views of all affected communities are considered. This project will test, analyse and share an existing participatory methodology (the Town Transition Tool or TTT) as a first step to understanding local readiness for closure and building a long-term participatory approach to mine closure planning. In Phases I and II of this project the TTT will be applied in the context of MMG’s Rosebery Mine in Tasmania.

Project Partners

MMG, The Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining (CSRM) at the Sustainable Minerals Institute (SMI) of the University of Queensland (UQ)

Duration

6 months – completed