$30m to help regional communities find sustainable post-mining future

A national consortium led by The University of Queensland and University of Western Australia has secured $30 million from the Federal Government to help regional communities transition to a sustainable future after their local mines have closed.

The funding forms part of a total 10-year investment of $135.4 million supporting mining communities to create sustainable community and development opportunities.

The consortium will form a Cooperative Research Centre on Transformations in Mining Economies (CRC-TiME) with hubs in both Queensland and Western Australia.

UQ Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Peter Høj said that with several large mines reaching the end of production within the next 10 years, both states had pressing motivation to find new futures for former mining communities.

“There has been a shift in thinking about mine closures and there is growing recognition that the end of a mine’s life should be the start of something new,” he said.

“CRC-TiME  will work directly with our industry partners and communities  to support sustainable development opportunities post mining.”

CRC-TiME brings together 75 partners including Mining3, BHP, Rio Tinto, Deswik, Decipher, the State Governments of Western Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory, as well as researchers from eight universities and CSIRO.

Mining3’s and CRC-TiME’s Research Director Professor Anna Littleboy said the Centre is expected to provide more than $2.4 billion of benefit by approaching closures as an agent for regional development.

“Rather than discussing mine closure as the end game, this project will bring industry, communities and governments together to provide new knowledge to help balance environment, economic and social outcomes and deliver regional aspirations after mining ” she said.

More information and a full list of CRC-TiME partners is available on the CRC website.