Turning legacy into a new beginning

Despite more than a century of mining activity, NSW has few, if any, examples of fully relinquished and successfully redeveloped mine sites. The barriers are well documented: a fragmented regulatory landscape, unclear ownership of long-term environmental liabilities, and a lack of demonstration projects to show what’s possible. The requirements for obtaining various approvals under different laws and the inflexible nature of modification applications add to the complexity, acting as disincentives for companies seeking innovative post-mining solutions. These challenges prevent communities from better utilising this land, thereby stifling economic regeneration and can leave mining companies in limbo.

A weakness identified in the current land use planning approach is the disconnect between the Mining Act 1992 and the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. This misalignment results in a lack of statutory requirements for integrating future land use planning throughout the mining lifecycle. Despite limited precedence, we have seen firsthand what it can unlock. In the landmark Hydro Aluminium project at Kurri Kurri, Ramboll supported the design and implementation of a remediation strategy that aligned with future land use goals. Transitioning a former high energy smelter site and buffer land into employment and housing, providing a positive long term social and economic legacy.

With the historical legislative framework, mining companies often find it easier to leave land as safe, stable, and non-polluting rather than embark on the lengthy and costly process of relinquishment. Progressive remediation, which is part of the development consent, as well as ongoing remediation following mine closure, may be required for decades.

The Report’s recommendations are a welcome step forward, identifying the need for reforms to streamline the regulatory framework and provide more flexible and supportive pathways for alternative land uses.

At Ramboll, we believe the success lies in an integrated strategy with a long-term view. The report acknowledges that to truly unlock the potential of post-mining land, we must integrate land use planning from the outset. Closure strategies should not be developed in isolation, they should be guided by a vision for what the land can become.

Our approach begins with early land use planning, not as an afterthought, but as a foundation. By identifying potential future uses of a site from the outset, we shape remediation strategies that are purpose-built to support those outcomes. This ensures that environmental clean-up is not only compliant, but unlocks land for productive reuse rather than simply stabilizing it for closure.

We also bring deep experience in proactively navigating the approval process. Our teams work closely with regulatory bodies to align remediation strategies with planning frameworks, environmental standards, and community expectations. This proactive and transparent approach reduces delays, builds trust, and helps clients move confidently through complex regulatory landscapes.

As we engage with mining companies in the Hunter Region, many of whom are approaching or undergoing closure, the appetite for change is clear.

Reusing legacy mining lands offers a powerful opportunity to regenerate regional economies, restore ecological function, and reconnect communities with landscapes long defined by extraction. These sites often occupy strategic locations with existing infrastructure, making them ideal for renewable energy hubs, industrial precincts, conservation areas, or even housing and recreation. With the right planning and remediation, former mine lands can become drivers of growth, turning environmental liabilities into long-term assets.

This model, where remediation is not the end of a site’s story, but the beginning of a new chapter, should be the blueprint for post-mining land use across NSW.

The opportunity before us is immense. With the right reforms, NSW can become a global leader in post-mining land transformation, turning legacy liabilities into community assets, and closure into a catalyst for regeneration.