Mine closure planning is attended by increasingly more comprehensive regulatory, technical, corporate and financial planning requirements. However, in some parts of the mining sector in Australia, there are very significant areas of mining disturbance that clearly cannot be relinquished. Further, proposals in the process of approval do not suggest that many of the new developments in these areas will perform significantly better. This paper investigates how this can continue to be the case, when increasing focus continues to be applied to mine closure. Although some of the contributing factors discussed are technical, such as climatic, chemical and physical conditions, modelling and design, several are more centred on corporate, organisational, regulatory and essentially human attributes. These factors frequently involve obstacles to critical analysis that make mine closure predisposed to a failure to meet closure expectations and commitments. These contributing factors are often largely ignored in the processes attendant to understanding long-term mining liability during due diligence, feasibility, approvals, operations and the closure phase. Identifying instances where a number of such factors may be present can indicate that some risks may not be captured in technical risk assessments. In addition to detailing several of the contributing factors which can lead to a failure of mine closure or mine closure planning, this paper proposes mitigating responses for each of the contributing factors presented and expands upon responses which have the greatest probability of being adopted.  Stakeholders disappointed in a reasonable expectation or failure to fulfil commitments to the standards indicated at project approval. https://papers.acg.uwa.edu.au/p/1208_05_Haymont/ Critical analysis and mine closure: why do things still go wrong in a swirl of feasibility, R. Haymont regulation and planning?

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Closure planning commenced during the feasibility stage of the project in 2008. Detailed closure planning was initiated during 2010 and included the use of gap analysis and risk assessment to identify closure opportunities and set planning priorities. A program of targeted investigations was then undertaken to resolve gaps and risks and to enable the development of a detailed mine closure plan. Atlas will demonstrate closure performance using robust measures, including closure objectives and criteria, to facilitate lease relinquishment in a planned and timely manner. Closure objectives and criteria have been developed in consultation with stakeholders. Atlas has integrated closure planning outcomes into the operational phase of the project to realise financial and operational efficiencies. The approach that Atlas has adopted will contribute to enhanced closure outcomes for the project.