Associated Event
Mine Closure 2024
26–28 November 2024 | The Westin Perth, Western Australia
Workshop: Transform. Transition. Transfer.
08:30-17:30, 25 November 2024 | Perth, Western Australia
Overview
Building on the themes raised at Mine Closure 2023 in Reno, Nevada, this workshop will look to delve deeper into the processes required to ensure environmental and socio-economic resilience for mine closure and site transfer. The interactive sessions will cover topics such as climate change adaptation, community opportunities, financial aspects of mine closure, and the transition to the next land user. Throughout the sessions, there is a focus on collaboration, addressing stakeholder concerns, and understanding the complexities involved in mine closure and site transfer, using practical case studies and real life examples.
Themes
Our presenters will emphasise the need for changes and transitions to mine closure, focussing on the below key themes:
Environmental Resiliency: Addressing the challenges posed by climate change and the importance of enhancing environmental resilience in closed mine sites.
Socio-Economic Transitioning: Recognising the interconnectedness between the closure of mines and the socio-economic well-being of local communities, and exploring strategies to facilitate smooth transitions.
Stakeholder Engagement: Highlighting the significance of involving diverse stakeholders and aligning their interests to ensure successful mine closure and site transfer.
Financial systems: Exploring the financial aspects of mine closure, including funding mechanisms and the management of closure costs, to support sustainable transitions.
Notes
Workshop material will be sent to the attendees post workshop.
Who should attend?
This workshop is aimed at those already involved in planning and managing for site closure and custodial transfer, as well as those only just embarking on that journey. It will suit those specialising in mine closure, environmental, social, engineering, or other fields as well as community members impacted by mining activities.
Workshop presenters
Sonia Finucane (Facilitator and presenter)
Principal Consultant
Pershke Consulting Pty Ltd
Sonia Finucane is a principal closure planner with more than 35 years of experience in closure planning for mining, industrial and infrastructure projects in Australia, the Asia-Pacific and Africa. Sonia also has extensive experience in environmental impact assessment and management, social impact assessment and stakeholder engagement. As such, she works at the interface of the environment and community, and has a strong track record in providing practical advice and workable solutions. Sonia recently joined Pershke Consulting after more than four years with CDM Smith where her roles included National Discipline Leader – asset closure.
Dr Kirsty Beckett (Presenter)
Principal Advisor – Mine Closure
Pershke Consulting Pty Ltd
Kirsty Beckett is a mine closure protagonist with a passion for mine closure education and training. Kirsty’s background in soil, water management and landform design underpins her track record for delivering robust closure plans that maintain environmental and cultural values in the post-closure landscape. With over 25 years’ experience in the mining industry, including tenures with Fortescue Metals Group and Rio Tinto, Kirsty seeks to inspire change within the mine closure industry, helping to establish the Closure Planning Practitioners Association and contributing to numerous other industry groups.
Jon Crosbie (Presenter)
Non-Executive Director and Deputy Board Chair
Mine Land Rehabilitation Authority
Jon has almost two decades of experience working for mining companies across the whole mining lifecycle, covering exploration, project development/approvals, construction, operations and closure. He has held both functional and operational roles with Rio Tinto, the International Council on Mining and Metals and MMG in differing cultural contexts, with experience in Africa, Europe, South America and Australia. His commodity exposure covers coal, iron ore, copper, gold, silver, zinc, lead, cobalt, molybdenum and uranium. For the last 10 years, Jon has worked in mine closure focused roles and has extensive experience in the areas of environmental impact assessment, progressive rehabilitation planning, closure liability cost estimation, ecological restoration, stakeholder engagement and socio-economic transitioning, and integrating these areas with strategy, risk, audit and financial functions. In early 2024, Jon became a non-executive director and deputy chair of the Mine Land Rehabilitation Authority – an independent body working with community, industry and government to oversee the rehabilitation of declared mine land to ensure transition to safe, stable and sustainable post-mining landforms in Victoria.
Preliminary program*
| Time | Program |
|---|---|
08:00 | REGISTRATION |
08:30 | Welcome and introductions |
09:00 | Session 1: Setting Up for Success This workshop commences with consideration of opportunities and constraints for successful transition of a mine to the next land use and transfer to the next land holder, along with key drivers and stressors. This recognises that one of the critical challenges facing the global mining industry is how to achieve appropriate, relevant and agreed outcomes for mine closure that support environmental and socio-economic transition to the next land use(s) and divestment of residual liability. To complete this session, an interactive exercise will focus on defining success measures for transformation, transition and transfer of mine to the next land use(s). |
10:00 | MORNING BREAK |
10:30 | Session 2: Climate Resiliency and Contamination Remediation Climate change is a business disruptor, both during operations and in implementing closure, so how do we best position mines to address the twin issues of climate change and climate adaption in planning and implementing closure? This session discusses the vulnerabilities of closed mine sites to climate change impacts, the importance of resilience-building measures in rehabilitation and remediation efforts from an environmental context as well as risk to business continuity, intergenerational equity and reputational risk. |
12:00 | LUNCH |
13:00 | Session 3: Practical Outcomes for Environmentally and Socio-Economically Resilient Landscapes One of the critical challenges facing the end of a mine life is how to achieve appropriate, relevant and agreed outcomes for mine closure and transition to the next land use. This session commences with a discussion on environmental and social processes occurring at closing and closed mines, and the connections between these. Through case studies and interactive discussion, we will then explore practical ways to avoid the pitfalls of unrealised promises and define practical socio-economic outcomes to support mine closure planning. |
14:30 | Session 4: Respecting Stakeholder Values and Resolving Conflicts The key factors that shape stakeholder values and expectations are universal, and yet the drivers for successful closure remain as diverse as the communities impacted by mining. In this session we will discuss case examples in mine closure and reflect on the personal impacts these activities have had on individuals, their families, the internal conflicts the transition generates and their readiness for a post-mining economy. |
15:00 | AFTERNOON BREAK |
15:30 | Session 5: The Cost of Mine Closure Success Achieving successful mine closure and the transition of the land to a new land use can come with a hefty price tag. This interactive game-play session simulates the different ways funding for mine closure transpires, enables participants to explore how unplanned closure costs can arise during the mine life and to consider how societal progression and regulation influence the best laid plans for achieving successful mine closure. |
17:00 | Wrap-up: Redefining Success To close this workshop, we revisit the success measures defined at the start of the workshop and ask “Based on today’s sessions, has your view on what defines successful closure and custodial transfer changed?” |
17:30 | WORKSHOP CLOSE |
*Subject to change.