Whitbread-Abrutat, P & Hesketh, P 2025, 'Nurturing creativity and innovation in mine transition planning', in S Knutsson, AB Fourie & M Tibbett (eds), Mine Closure 2025: Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on Mine Closure, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 1-10, https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/2515_08
(https://papers.acg.uwa.edu.au/p/2515_08_Whitbread-Abrutat/)
Abstract: Mine closure planning involves a titanic effort that requires corporate structure to deliver, while mining transition responds to a community’s needs and culture by providing opportunities for continued use of the land and an extension of livelihoods. The conundrum between closure and transition is that corporate structure is rigid around its mission and beset by cost and risk while transition requires creativity, flexibility and long-term considerations including nurturing. This paper recognises the fact that many great examples of mine site repurposing were actually completed after the mine site closed and were initiated by creative people, often from a local community, who had nothing to do with the mining operations or organisation. To embed creativity in mine closure planning requires not only leadership but also meaningful engagement, vision development and setting the right standards. The paper draws on the authors’ experiences in working in regeneration and explores how creativity can be embedded within mine closure planning by reference to global cases and experiences both within and outside of the mining industry.

Keywords: just transition and planning, vision development, stakeholder participation/engagement, art and nurture