Mine Closure, Tailings, Mine Waste & Water Resilience Conference

Australia’s mining sector is entering a pivotal phase.

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From the Pilbara iron ore operations to South Australia’s copper projects, from Queensland’s Bowen Basin to Northern Territory ventures, mining operations are facing increasing pressures: water scarcity, extreme climate events, legacy waste liabilities, regulatory tightening, and rising investor and community expectations for ESG-aligned, low-carbon mining.

Mines and Environment's Future-Ready Mines 2026: Tailings, Closure & Water Resilience convenes national and international leaders from mining, engineering, environmental management, research, and government to define the next generation of responsible, resilient, and sustainable mining across Australia.

This 2-day conference provides strategic insights, technical guidance, and practical solutions to address the emerging challenges of the coming decade, including climate risk, water management, tailings safety, mine closure excellence, and ESG transparency.

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Why this conference matters; 

Australian operators face converging pressures:
•    Intensifying water stress in WA, QLD, NT & SA
•    Increasing frequency and severity of rainfall extremes affecting tailings, water, and landform stability
•    State and federal regulatory tightening across 2026–2030
•    Heightened investor, community, and ESG expectations
•    Long-term closure liabilities and legacy waste challenges impacting operational and corporate risk
 

Future-Ready Mines 2026 delivers frameworks, case studies, and technical guidance to reduce operational risk, enhance resilience, and ensure compliance with national and global ESG and climate expectations.

Conference Themes & Topics

1. Tailings & Mine Waste

• Integrating Mine Closure, Tailings & ESG into the New Regulatory Landscape

• Next-Generation Tailings Solutions: Dry Stacking, Paste & In-Pit Systems

• Climate-Resilient Mine Infrastructure: Managing Extreme Rainfall & Water Variability

• ESG in Tailings & Water Management – Metrics, Reporting & Stakeholder Engagement

• Tailings Innovation – Filtered, Paste & Dry Stacking Systems

• Climate & Water Risk Modelling for Mine Closure

• Circular Mining & Legacy Waste: Turning Tailings into Critical Minerals

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Panel Discussion:
•    Tailings and Water Management: Lessons for Compliance, Safety & ESG Performance

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2. Mine Closure & Legacy Landforms
•    Designing stable, water-resilient post-mining landforms
•    Best practice rehabilitation and closure planning
•    ESG-aligned closure frameworks and investor reporting
•    Case studies from Australian and international operations

3. Water & Climate Resilience
•    Water management under increasing climate variability
•    Hydrology and risk modelling for mine water systems
•    Climate-resilient infrastructure design for tailings and operational assets
•    Planning for extreme rainfall events and cyclonic conditions

4. Decarbonisation & ESG Integration
•    Low-carbon mine operations, carbon capture, utilisation & storage (CCUS)
•    ESG performance measurement, transparency, and reporting frameworks
•    Integrating ESG and decarbonisation across tailings, water, and closure strategies

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Who should attend? 
Designed for professionals across the full mining lifecycle:
•    Mine Managers & Operations Leaders
•    Tailings, Geotechnical, Processing & Civil Engineers
•    Mine Closure, Rehabilitation & Environmental Specialists
•    Hydrologists, Water Managers & Climate Risk Analysts
•    ESG, Sustainability & Decarbonisation Leads
•    Government regulators, policy makers, and consultants
•    Investors, risk professionals, and corporate strategy teams
•    Indigenous organisations, land councils & Traditional Owner groups
•    Technology solution providers, contractors, and researchers

Why attend? 
Delegates will gain:
•    Insights into emerging national regulatory trends and compliance requirements
•    Practical, deployable innovations in tailings, water, and closure management
•    Guidance on decarbonisation strategies and ESG integration
•    Networking opportunities with mining leaders, technical experts, regulators, and researchers
•    Knowledge and frameworks to implement sustainable, resilient, and future-ready mining operations across Australia

Call for Abstracts
Future-Ready Mines 2026 invites thought leaders, technical experts, and innovators to submit abstracts for presentations, case studies, and panel sessions.

We welcome contributions that address:
•    Innovative tailings and mine waste management solutions
•    Climate-resilient water systems and hydrology
•    ESG integration, reporting, and decarbonisation initiatives
•    Mine closure planning, post-mining landform design, and rehabilitation strategies
•    Legacy waste transformation and circular mining approaches
•    Regulatory insights and compliance strategies for 2026–2030
This is an opportunity to share expertise with a national audience of mining, engineering, environmental, and government professi

Future-Ready Mines 2026 positions Australian mining to lead globally in tailings safety, water stewardship, climate resilience, and responsible mine closure, ensuring operations are low-carbon, water-smart, and closure-ready for decades to come.