ID: 1522
Presenting Author: Liz Wall
Session: 729 - FPIC - How prior is prior?
Status: pending
Time, knowledge and agency - the trifecta needed to support communities to transition beyond mine closure. This paper considers what leading practice might look like to foster and support all three.
Mines open. Mines close. And arguably one of the most critical ingredients affecting the success of a community’s transition after mining is the time a community has to prepare. And one of the ingredients influencing time is knowledge of when a mine will close and what closure will entail. But while all can agree that time and knowledge are key, they may mean little if a community has limited agency to direct and control their social transition. Engaging on mine closure is challenged by changing mine plans, stakeholder fatigue when closure feels like a long distant concept, and an optimism bias that can affect all parties. This paper will reflect on what leading practice for consultation on mine closure might look like and the real-life challenges experienced in delivering on this on the ground.
Liz is a social specialist with 25 years experience working on natural resource projects around the world, with a particular interest in how communities transition beyond mine closure.