Joiner, R & Brereton, J 2026, 'From consultation to stewardship: community trust, continuity 
and change in long-term mine closure', in AB Fourie, G Boggs, J Heyes & M Tibbett (eds), Mine Closure 2026: Proceedings of the 19th International Conference on Mine Closure, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 1-7, https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/2615_04
(https://papers.acg.uwa.edu.au/p/2615_04_Joiner/)
Abstract: Mine closure is not an end point but a generational transition, particularly in regions where mining has shaped landscapes, livelihoods and identity for decades. In these contexts, communities are not simply stakeholders in closure planning; they are long-term, deeply invested stewards of what comes next.
Drawing on engagement practice in the Latrobe Valley in Victoria, Australia, this paper reflects on how provisional forms of trust and confidence have gradually emerged in a highly fatigued region experiencing multiple overlapping mine rehabilitation and closure processes. It examines the conditions that supported effective engagement, including clarity of the institutional role, continuity of relationships, transparency about uncertainty and deliberate pacing to respect community capacity.
The paper also considers the challenges that arise when institutional arrangements change during long-term transitions. For communities already navigating uncertainty, organisational restructuring can be experienced as an additional disruption; raising concerns about continuity, accountability and the preservation of hard-won trust. Rather than focusing on organisational permanence, this paper explores how trust is produced through practice and how it can be destabilised, or sustained, as governance structures evolve.
The paper argues that while institutions may change, the social conditions required for meaningful engagement remain consistent. It concludes by offering practical insights for regulators, operators and practitioners seeking to move beyond transactional consultation towards shared stewardship and highlights the importance of recognising trust as a long-term asset in mine closure planning globally.

Keywords: social impact, community engagement, community consultation, Latrobe Valley, open cut mines, rehabilitation planning