Planning for mine closure: comparative mapping of the regulatory frameworks for mine closure planning in Western Australia, Queensland, and Victoria

Mapping the regulatory frameworks for mine closure planning around Australia requires consideration of several overlapping and enmeshed legal concepts, institutions, powers processes. It can encompass environmental, economic, social, cultural climate transitions site surrounding region. Mining create complex and, in some cases, irreversible impacts, which must be considered pre-emptively to optimise mitigation any potential damage. Legal systems are required play catch-up with science culture at best times. Mine is further complicated when anticipating decades worth mining impacts conducting interactions between industry, government community within an evolving framework. Improving efficiency evolution us take a comparative approach evaluation existing mechanisms. Western Australia, Queensland, Victoria all have prominent industries, been adapting recent years reformed requirements planning. Whilst mines active might present more immediate political challenges, they also serve as reminder importance continuously improving process. This article undertakes analysis those three states’ processes achieve approved plan prior commencement operations. We close look laws guidelines regulating minerals resources tenure, environmental water access approvals. The considers extent each state provides opportunity engagement comment grant draw attention key distinctions approaches taken suggest pertinent areas future research reform.