Testing new ground: how Victoria’s Mine Land Rehabilitation Authority is reimagining post-mining transitions
Introduction
The Latrobe Valley in Gippsland, Victoria is located approximately 150 km east of Melbourne. It is home to three of the Southern hemisphere’s largest open cut brown coal mines; Hazelwood, Yallourn and Loy Yang, which have powered the state’s electricity sector for the past century.
As Victoria transitions away from coal, the rehabilitation of these declared mines has emerged as one of the most complex and pressing land use challenges in the state. The Victorian Government established the Mine Land Rehabilitation Authority (MLRA) which facilitates the rehabilitation of declared mine sites to work collaboratively towards safe, stable and sustainable landforms. Once rehabilitation is complete and declared mining licences are surrendered, the MLRA’s role shifts to ensuring any required monitoring and maintenance of the former declared mine sites is carried out. There is no other authority in Australia like the MLRA.
The MLRA is not a regulator. Instead, it exists to facilitate and oversee good mine rehabilitation outcomes for communities, industry, and government. The MLRA works closely with Resources Victoria (the state’s mining regulator), and other government departments, as well as with licensees, community members and Traditional Owners.
The context: why a new approach was needed
In Victoria, state legislation identifies the concept of a ‘declared mine’ as a mine that has geotechnical, hydrogeological, water quality or hydrological factors that may be deemed to pose significant risk of harm to the community, environment and infrastructure. The Minister for Resources may, at any time, choose to declare a mine according to these criteria. The three declared mines span a combined licence area of approximately 135 km², with the mine voids themselves covering more than 57 km². The license areas are large, complex landscapes located close to regional towns and critical infrastructure.
With all three sites closing in a short timeframe, with significant policy, environmental and community risks to manage, the Victorian Government recognised that business-as-usual wouldn’t be enough. The Mineral Resources (Sustainable Development) Act was amended to include the MLRA and a supporting structure to implement the new approach; one that includes the provision of comprehensive advice, including to the Minister and other stakeholders, on all aspects of declared mine rehabilitation. It also established a high-level framework for ongoing management of residual risks, with mechanisms, a funding solution, and responsibilities for monitoring and maintaining former declared mine land.
This structure enables the MLRA to be a trusted, independent body focused on building public confidence and long-term planning.
Testing a new construct
The MLRA is trialling a new model of authority; one that aims to better include community voice, foster transparency, and ensure that the rehabilitation of declared mines is seen not merely as an engineering task, but as a social, environmental and economic transition.
This model also acknowledges the need for industry-funded ongoing management of rehabilitated sites post closure. To achieve these aims, the MLRA provides advice, builds a knowledge base, and is planning for future responsibilities. As a standalone statutory authority with direct and ongoing post-licence surrender responsibilities, the MLRA has a vested interest in the project’s delivery, wanting to ensure good rehabilitation outcomes for the Latrobe Valley to minimise ongoing maintenance and management post license surrender. The MLRA therefore maintains a strong focus on strategic oversight and understanding of site-specific current rehabilitation planning and physical activities.
The approach has generated interest nationally and internationally. The MLRA is
Testing new ground: how Victoria’s Mine Land Rehabilitation Authority is reimagining post-mining transitions
By Dr Jen Brereton, Rosemary Joiner and Antonia Scrase, Mine Land Rehabilitation Authority
testing parameters that other jurisdictions may wish to adopt or adapt in future to manage the ongoing residual liabilities and risk that may exist with many complex mines. One of these parameters is independence and the ability to act as a bridge between stakeholders.
Opportunities unlocked
This model opens new doors:
- It provides a space for independent advice, including to the Minister, on all aspects of declared mine rehabilitation including legislation and risk management.
- It enables consistent, transparent communication between stakeholders.
- It supports cross-sector collaboration and the integration of Traditional Owner knowledge.
- It creates space to think long-term, beyond the operational life of a mine and the tenure of individual licensees.
- It reinforces the understanding that there is no ‘walk away solution’ and acknowledges the ongoing costs of managing residual liabilities after license surrender, supported by the creation of the Declared Mine Fund (DMF) to be funded by industry.
- It represents a novel approach to funding and managing the residual risks of rehabilitated mines.
Importantly, it aims to empower communities who have lived alongside these mines for generations to play a more meaningful role in shaping their post-mining future.
This innovative approach required foresight from the Victorian Government. Establishing the MLRA reflects a willingness to think differently and take a long-term view of mine closure and land use.
Planning for the long haul: two distinct phases
Mine rehabilitation is only considered complete when closure criteria are achieved and a mine licence is formally surrendered. The MLRA’s role spans two distinct phases:
- Phase one – engagement phase (pre-surrender)
Before mine licence surrender, the MLRA acts as a facilitator and advisor, providing guidance on the development of safe, stable, and sustainable post-mining landforms, and enabling open dialogue across community, industry, and government. This phase involves educating, listening, learning, creating spaces for challenging conversations, identifying potential roadblocks, offering solutions and building a shared understanding of long-term risks and opportunities. - Phase two – registered declared mine land phase (post-surrender)
Following licence surrender, the MLRA’s responsibilities shift to either owning or overseeing the land.
In this phase, the MLRA administers the DMF to manage residual risks and ensure these ongoing costs are not borne by the Victorian Government. This engagement approach also evolves, with a stronger focus on compliance, risk management, and long-term stewardship of the site.
Across both phases, the MLRA remains committed to principles of collaboration, transparency, and public accountability.
Big picture thinking
Rehabilitating the declared mines of the Latrobe Valley is not a one-size-fits-all task. Each site presents distinct challenges, yet all require thinking at scale, across decades and disciplines.
Planning is required, not only for technical closure but also for broader regional transformation. This requires considering of funding models to support the DMF, long-term legacy risks, and post-closure land use potential. The MLRA plays a central role in helping stakeholders navigate these complex and far-reaching questions.
Conclusion: laying foundations for future models
The MLRA is testing a new way of working with communities, industry and environment.
It reflects a belief that independent, trusted, community-focused bodies can play a critical role in the success of mine rehabilitation; not just in Victoria, but potentially around the world.
As the MLRA prepares for the next phase of its responsibilities, it is planning and developing the tools needed to support this work.
As this model evolves, it offers opportunities for shared learning. Mine closure is not just an end; it’s the beginning of something new.