Aligning mine closure planning and regional development: an adaptive regional socio-economic transition framework from the Latrobe Valley, Australia

Authors: Jiang, Y; Slingerland, N Download Paper Open access courtesy of:

DOI https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/2615_154

Cite As:
Jiang, Y & Slingerland, N 2026, 'Aligning mine closure planning and regional development: an adaptive regional socio-economic transition framework from the Latrobe Valley, Australia', 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. 1-11, https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/2615_154



Abstract:
Mine closure increasingly unfolds at a regional scale, where rehabilitation decisions are shaped by shared water systems, regional infrastructure, governance settings and social expectations. In regions where mines and powerplants are co-located, closure planning is further complicated by the interdependence of infrastructure and legacy management. Within the mine closure process, differences in how closure needs are prioritised and sequenced across stakeholders influence rehabilitation coordination. The Latrobe Valley in Australia provides a live context where these priorities are negotiated alongside active closures and emerging land use directions. Semi-structured interviews with 15 local stakeholders indicate that closure discussions commonly separate economic transition, technical site completion and livelihood considerations. Despite prolonged closure discourse and an abrupt mine and powerplant shutdown, transition efforts remain largely exploratory, as socio-economic pressures persist and a consolidated regional development pathway has yet to materialise. The findings highlight the need for a coordinated adaptive transition framework at the regional scale, with defined responsibilities and timelines, that extends beyond achieving geotechnically and geochemically safe and stable landscapes. It establishes alternative transition pathways ahead of final closure and progressively narrows these options as site and regional conditions become clearer over time. Operationally, this requires early transdisciplinary closure planning with expanded disciplinary representation, a shared definition of closure success oriented towards regional regeneration, alignment between rehabilitation sequencing and land use strategy, clarified governance roles and funding mechanisms, and staged implementation through regionally coordinated catalytic projects. This supports more coherent and responsive closure trajectories in regions undergoing structural change.

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