Planning for closure is part of a mine’s core business and preliminary planning should be undertaken early in the mine lifecycle, even before mining starts. As the closure date draws closer, planning becomes more detailed. MMG has had mine closure plans in place for the Rosebery zinc, copper, lead and cold operation in Tasmania for many years. The company’s internal processes stipulate that it must start formal, detailed closure studies when the remaining mine life reaches seven years.

Consequently, in 2019, MMG invested about $15 million to progress detailed mine closure studies for Rosebery mine and the nearby Hercules mine, which has been in care and maintenance for more than 15 years. Apart from looking at the biophysical aspects, these studies will also address the socio-economic aspects of mine closure, such as infrastructure, services, land use, economic vitality and the social well-being of employees, contractors, suppliers, residents and community groups.

As a first step of its socio-economic study, MMG engaged the Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining (CSRM), part of the University of Queensland’s Sustainable Minerals Institute, to implement the Town Transition Tool (TTT), a participatory framework for opening the conversation about mine closure among all stakeholders, including the company, local government and the community.

This case study describes the TTT process and outcomes from the Rosebery workshops.