The South Australian government is committed to ensuring that land disturbed by exploration, mining and extractives operations is rehabilitated to ensure a safe, stable, non-polluting and self-sustaining landform capable of sustaining, where practical, a beneficial post-mining land use, with no unacceptable ongoing risks to the state, community and environment.
The Department for Energy and Mining, through the Minerals Regulation branch, is responsible for the regulation, administration and management of South Australia’s mining sector, mineral resources and exploration.
The Mining Act 1971 (Mining Act) and associated mining regulations provide the framework to enable the regulation of all operations in South Australia from initial exploration, operation, progressive rehabilitation and closure of a site.
This web page provides comprehensive resources for industry and the community seeking guidance and information on mine closure and progressive rehabilitation, providing:
- the department's latest guidelines and policy governing closure and rehabilitation
- an opportunity to learn from leading practice in the industry in Australia and globally to implement effective and sustainable mine closure and rehabilitation practices.
Priority mine and quarry closure and rehabilitation resources
The South Australian Government has developed a framework to guide the development of priority mine and quarry closure and rehabilitation guidelines and supporting resources. These are intended to support consistent, effective, and scientifically informed closure and rehabilitation practices across the industry, which are integrated into the broader life-cycle of the operation.
This page will be updated as new resources become available.
The above schematic diagram demonstrates the integration of closure planning into the life of the operation from exploration and feasibility through to operations, closure and tenement surrender with increasing detail in closure design and strategies over time, continued stakeholder engagement and reduction in risk and knowledge gaps.
DEM relevant guidelines, policies and information
- Former mines
- Mine closures and partial surrenders
- Financial assurance
- Mineral regulatory guidelines
- Terms of reference and instructions
Closure and rehabilitation guidelines, standards and research
- Australian Centre for Geomechanics Mine Closure Conference - Papers
- CRC TiME - Publications
- CRC TiME- Mine closure guidance: review and comparative analysis
- ISO Standard for Mine Closure and Reclamation Planning - 1
- ISO Standard for Mine Closure and Reclamation Planning - 2
- ICMM - Integrated Mine Closure: Good Practice Guide
- Leading Practice Handbooks - Sustainable Mining
- MCA - Mine Rehabilitation Concepts
- Queensland Mine Rehabilitation Commissioner - Research
- Sustainability Guidelines for Quarry Rehabilitation and Biodiversity Management (GCCA)
Tailings storage facilities and dams
Revegetation and ecological restoration
- Florabank Guidelines
- Society for Ecological Restoration Standards, Guidelines and Principles
- National Standards for the practice of ecological restoration in Australia (SERA)Society for Ecological Restoration Standards, Guidelines and Principles
Post-mining land use
- CRC TiME - Post-mining land uses
- Enabling Mine Closure and Transitions: Opportunities for Australian Industry - CSIRO
- ICMM Post-mining land use case studies
Financial concepts
Acid and metalliferous drainage
Completion criteria
Abandonment bunds in open pit mines
Contact for more information
Email: DEM.MiningRegRehab@sa.gov.au
