Mine closure is now widely regarded as a multi-party process, rather than an issue only for companies and the regulator. Key reasons for involving others in participatory processes for closure have been canvassed by regulators and by industry bodies like the International Council on Mining & Metals (ICMM). Public participation is now deemed essential to achieve a smooth post-closure transition and a positive socio-economic ‘legacy’ of mining.
This exploratory study does not advocate the use of any specific participatory processes but rather profiles a panorama of processes with potential to support a social transition of benefit to local communities, public interest groups and rights holders in the decades after mining production ceases. The paper provides examples of this range of processes and their potential benefits.