LEADING QUEENSLAND'S MINE REHAB FUTURE

QUEENSLAND MINE REHABILITATION COMMISSIONER JAMES PURTILL RECENTLY SET OUT HIS VISION FOR TURNING MINE CLOSURE INTO INDUSTRY OPPORTUNITY.

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When speaking at AusIMM's Life of Mine Conference in Brisbane in July, James Purtill shared his vision for how mine closure can evolve from a regulatory challenge into a driver of innovation and opportunity.

Since assuming the role of Queensland's inaugural Mine Rehabilitation Commissioner in 2021, Purtill has focused on improving how the state approaches mine closure and rehabilitation.

The role was established following reforms between 2017 and 2019 that strengthened life-of-mine planning, introduced the financial provisioning fund, and emphasised progressive rehabilitation.

Purtill spoke to AusIMM chief executive officer Stephen Durkin as part of a new interview series Leading Conversations that explores the careers and impact of work from experts in the mining and minerals sector. He discussed how his position is intended to guide government and industry in adopting leading practices for transitioning mines to land uses following mining.

"My role was established as an advisory role to government in leading practice in progressive rehabilitation and mine closure planning or, as I prefer to call it, transitions to post-mining futures," Purtill said.