Post-mining land use and associated economies have become a priority issue in mine lifecycle planning. This scoping project starts from the position that reconceptualising mine ‘closure’ may enhance the industry’s contribution to sustainable development.

This project reframes mining as a temporary land use, which positions post-mining land use as intrinsic to the mine lifecycle, including the planning and operational phases. Rehabilitation and restoration during operations tend to have a narrower remit, and focus on returning sites to their pre-mining state, which in many cases of large-scale, open-cut mines is unrealistic.

The primary focus is on identifying examples of post-mining repurposing of land and related economic transitions that are being led and/or funded by industry. Transitions led by state or other actors (e.g. civil society groups) provide additional inspiration for industry-led opportunities. Our findings provide an initial repository of cases that different parties can to refer to in making decisions about post-mining futures.

The aim of the project is to provide an overview of the ‘state of play’ and identify future research and policy directions that encompass a breadth of options for repurposed mining landscapes, infrastructure and economic linkages.