CRC TiME – Transforming mining economies

Successful mine closure and relinquishment are complex, costly processes, with significant uncertainty around environmental outcomes, future land uses and long-term liabilities. There are relatively few examples of successful mine closure, making it difficult to build confidence in closure-related investment and planning.

WABSI worked with Western Australia's mining industry and research community to develop and lead the successful bid for the Cooperative Research Centre for Transformations in Mining Economies (CRC TiME). The collaboration secured $29.5 million in Commonwealth funding as part of a total 10-year investment of $135 million, creating a national research platform focused on the transformation of mining regions and economies.

CRC TiME brings together industry, communities, government and researchers to address the environmental, economic, social and technical dimensions of mine closure. Its work includes collaborative approaches to mine relinquishment, post-mining land-use planning and regional economic development, recognising that successful closure needs to be considered at both the mine-site and regional scales.

For WABSI, the collaboration extends the focus beyond rehabilitation alone to the broader question of how mining regions can transition successfully after resource extraction ends. Building the evidence, capability and partnerships needed for that transition can improve confidence in closure decisions while creating opportunities for sustainable post-mining futures.