Mine Closure 2009

Join the Australian Centre for Geomechanics and the Centre for Land Rehabilitation in attempting to answer crucial questions of how to close mines in socially, economically and environmentally responsible ways. You will have a unique opportunity to meet your counterparts from many different countries and share your ideas and experiences.

Share and explore information about innovative mine closure strategies, processes and products to help minimise future environmental and social impacts.

Click here to view the preliminary programme.

Conference Themes

Planning for closure
Financing closure
Dealing with stakeholder concerns
Reducing long-term water management costs
Appropriate cover systems - designing for perpetuity
Post-closure monitoring and final relinquishment
Climate change and mine site rehabilitation
Ecosystem reconstruction and pedogenesis
Legacy issues from abandonment to asset

LATEST NEWS

Breakout Sessions for Mine Closure 2009

The breakout sessions will provide the Mine Closure 2009 Conference delegates with an opportunity to attend a highly interactive breakout session that is especially relevant to their respective work interests. Unlike the formal conference sessions, the breakout sessions are to provide a forum for lively debate on topical issues and generate much interaction and discussion among the attendees.

The sessions are as follows:

Life on mine carbon: when is the mining industry to pay for its carbon? Champion: Rob Lambeck, Greening Australia

Are multi-use landscapes the lowest common denominator or can they provide real benefits? Champion: Alexander Watson

Corporate responsibility: what is it really worth when times are tough? Champion: Sonia Finucane, Bioscope Environmental Consulting

These sessions will be held during the Mine Closure 2009 Conference.

Welcome Address

Professor Tony O’Donnell, Dean, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Western Australia

Professor O'Donnell was born and educated in the UK. Before moving to Western Australia in August 2008, he worked at the University of Newcastle in the northeast of England. Whilst at Newcastle he established, and was the first director of, the multidisciplinary Institute of Research in Environment and Sustainability (IRES). IRES undertook interdisciplinary research at the interfaces between science, engineering and socioeconomics to deliver sustainable, economically viable, solutions to environmental problems.

He has published more than 100 reserach articles and is recognised internationally for his work on soils and in particular the importance of soil microorganisms in natural and managed environments. Professor O'Donnell's research interests range from work on bioenergy, including biodiesel (Jatropha) and the biological conversion of municipal wastes to biogas, through to nutrient cycling in soils and rivers.

Plenary Speakers

Mine Closure 2009 Conference plenary speakers include Dr Alan Baker, The University of Melbourne, Dr Gary Bentel, BHP Billiton, Professor Martin Fey, The University of Western Australia, Professor Jörg Imberger, The University of Western Australia, Dr Robert Lambeck, Greening Australia, Mr Howard Smith, Northern Land Council, and Dr Alexander Watson, The Great Western Woodlands Alliance.