Planning for life after closure: research on mining and power station sites
Across Australia, mining sites and coal- and gas-fired power stations are approaching the end of their operational lives. These closures are driven by a combination of ageing infrastructure, changing energy markets, and the global shift to cleaner sources of energy. What happens after closure can affect jobs, investment and environmental outcomes for regional communities over the long term.
New research commissioned by the NZEA and undertaken by Urbis, Norton Rose Fulbright and Indigenous Energy Australia, examines how former industrial sites are rehabilitated and reused.
The research explores how existing policy, legislative and regulatory frameworks shape post-closure land use. It also draws on stakeholder consultations to understand how these frameworks operate in practice, undertaking with:
- government agencies
- industry
- First Nations organisations
- unions
- investors. and
- research institutions.
Big sites, big opportunities
Former mining and power station sites are often:
- large in scale
- close to energy, transport and water infrastructure
- located near regional towns and workforces.
When managed well, these sites can support new industries, create jobs and contribute to long-term regional resilience. When planning is delayed or unclear, sites can remain unused for long periods, limiting investment and placing ongoing pressure on local communities.
What the research found
The research found that barriers to post-closure reuse are largely structural rather than technical.
Challenges include fragmented regulation across jurisdictions, long approval timeframes and uncertainty around residual risk. Inflexible land-use planning can also make it difficult for asset owners, investors and communities to move forward with confidence.
In some cases, this uncertainty can delay decisions for years, creating gaps where jobs are lost and local economies decline before new uses are established.
Why early planning matters
A consistent theme shared by stakeholders was the importance of early and coordinated planning.
When rehabilitation, land-use planning, workforce transition and investment pathways are considered together, regions are better placed to manage change over time. Progressive rehabilitation and staged transitions can also help reduce long-term risks and costs, while providing greater certainty for workers and communities.
The Australian Government recently announced plans to begin re-use planning for the Mt Arthur and Macquarie coal mine sites in New South Wales. The agreement brings together Commonwealth and state governments, local councils and industry to coordinate early planning for future land uses.
This coordinated planning reflects the importance of early collaboration across governments and industry to help manage post-closure transitions.
Communities at the centre
Stakeholders emphasised the need for early and ongoing engagement with communities and First Nations peoples, including Traditional Owners.
Workforce planning needs to recognise existing skills and create realistic pathways into new industries. Without this, even technically viable projects can struggle to gain local support or momentum.
Place-based approaches, grounded in local conditions, strengths and priorities, are critical to ensuring that transition outcomes are practical, inclusive and durable.
A pathway forward
The research highlights several areas for further attention:
- stronger coordination across governments
- clearer regulatory pathways
- flexible, place-based planning approaches
- closer alignment between policy settings, investment decisions and community outcomes.
Decisions about post-closure land use will play an important role in shaping regional futures in Australia. Evidence-based planning, early engagement and coordinated action can help ensure these futures are resilient, productive and community-led.
Read the full report, along with a companion case study document and summary report.