OVERVIEW
As mine closure obligations continue to evolve, the mining industry is facing a fundamental shift in how environmental risk, water stewardship and tailings management are governed across the full asset lifecycle.
No longer viewed as an end-of-mine activity, closure planning has become a strategic business issue with significant implications for operational decision-making, financial provisioning, ESG performance, regulatory compliance and long-term corporate liability.
Water systems, tailings storage facilities and residual environmental risks can remain active long after production ceases, creating obligations that extend decades beyond closure.
This executive breakfast will bring together mining leaders, environmental specialists, legal practitioners, consultants, regulators, technology providers and operational decision-makers to examine the emerging challenges shaping mine closure and long-term stewardship in 2026.
Through expert presentations, industry case studies and interactive discussion, attendees will explore how mining companies can strengthen closure governance, improve water management outcomes, reduce long-term liabilities and leverage emerging technologies to support sustainable closure outcomes.
Key themes include long-term water stewardship, tailings governance, closure readiness, ESG accountability, lifecycle risk management, emerging regulatory expectations and innovative approaches to managing environmental liabilities throughout the mining lifecycle.
Attendees will gain practical insights into the governance frameworks, technologies and legal considerations influencing mine closure strategies across Australia and globally, while connecting with peers responsible for managing some of the industry's most complex environmental and operational challenges.
This is an essential event for organisations seeking to strengthen closure planning, reduce future risk exposure and build resilient post-mining landscapes in an era of increasing environmental accountability.
Who should attend?
This event is designed for senior decision-makers and technical professionals responsible for mine closure, environmental performance, tailings management, water stewardship, risk governance and long-term asset planning, including:
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Mining company executives and operational leaders
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CEOs, Managing Directors and General Managers
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Environmental Managers and Closure Managers
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Sustainability, ESG and Corporate Affairs professionals
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Water Management and Hydrogeology specialists
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Tailings Engineers and Geotechnical Professionals
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Mine Planning and Asset Management teams
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Health, Safety, Environment and Risk Managers
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Legal Counsel and Regulatory Compliance professionals
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Government regulators and policy representatives
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Mining consultants and advisory firms
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Technology providers supporting closure and environmental management
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Engineering, environmental and geoscience practitioners
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Investors, insurers and organisations with exposure to mining closure and ESG risk
Why attend?
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Understand how mine closure obligations are evolving beyond rehabilitation.
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Examine emerging risks associated with water systems, tailings infrastructure and long-term environmental liabilities.
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Explore innovative technologies supporting closure readiness and operational performance.
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Gain insights into legal, regulatory and ESG expectations influencing closure governance.
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Learn from industry experts and practical case studies.
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Network with senior leaders shaping the future of mine closure and environmental stewardship across the Resources Sector
Agenda
7.10am - 7.25am
Registration and Arrival
7.30am – 7.50am
Sit Down Breakfast
7.50am – 8.00am
Welcome and Introductions
8.00am – 8.25am
Mine Closure Beyond Rehabilitation: Long-Term Water Stewardship, Tailings Legacy Risk and Lifecycle Governance
Mine closure is increasingly being recognised as a long-term stewardship challenge rather than a rehabilitation endpoint. Across the mining sector, attention is shifting towards the management of enduring water systems, tailings infrastructure and environmental liabilities that may persist for decades after production ceases.
As regulators, investors and communities place greater emphasis on demonstrable long-term stability, mining companies are being challenged to integrate closure planning into operational decision-making much earlier in the asset lifecycle. Water quality, seepage management, sediment behaviour, pit lake performance and tailings stability are emerging as some of the most significant risks influencing closure outcomes.
This session explores how closure governance is evolving and examines the strategies, technologies and planning approaches required to manage long-term environmental obligations, improve water stewardship outcomes and reduce future risk exposure.
Key Discussion Areas
• Long-term management of pit lakes, tailings facilities and residual water systems
• Water quality, sediment behaviour and seepage risks beyond active mining operations
• Closure liabilities and the financial implications of long-term stewardship
• Integrating closure readiness into operational planning and asset management
• Building resilient post-mining landscapes through lifecycle governance
8.25am – 8 40am
Q&A
8.45am - 9.15am
Industry Case Study: Continuous intervention in Tailings and Water Systems using Robotic Technologies
As mining operations face increasing pressure to improve water stewardship, optimise storage capacity and reduce long-term environmental liabilities, proactive management of sediment accumulation and water infrastructure is becoming a critical component of both operational performance and closure preparedness.
Traditional intervention methods often require shutdowns, dewatering activities or personnel exposure to hazardous environments, creating operational disruption and additional risk. Emerging robotic and remote technologies are enabling continuous intervention within active tailings and water systems while maintaining operational continuity.
This session examines how robotic solutions are being deployed to manage sediment accumulation, improve water recovery, maintain infrastructure performance and support closure readiness.
Key Discussion Areas
• Sediment accumulation and its impact on storage capacity and performance
• Maintaining tailings and water assets without shutdowns or dewatering
• Improving water recovery and reducing long-term closure liabilities
• Robotic systems operating in hazardous submerged environments
• Continuous intervention vs deferred remediation strategies
• Supporting transition from operations to closure
9.15am - 9.30am
Break
9.30am - 10.00am
Mine Closure Liability, Tailings Governance and ESG Legal Risk in Mining
Mine closure and tailings governance are no longer technical or environmental end-of-life issues—they are now central to mining law, corporate governance, and ESG risk frameworks. Regulatory regimes in Australia and internationally increasingly require tailings storage facilities and associated water systems to be managed across the full mine lifecycle, including closure and post-closure. This reflects a broader shift in legal expectation: liability does not end with operational shutdown and may extend for decades where residual environmental risk remains.
Global standards such as GISTM are also reshaping expectations of “reasonable care” in tailings governance, influencing regulatory enforcement, investor scrutiny, insurance conditions and corporate accountability.
This session examines how mining companies are exposed to expanding legal and financial liability arising from tailings and closure risk, particularly where water systems, structural stability and long-term environmental performance are involved.
Key Legal Discussion areas
• Expansion of duty of care into post-closure tailings and water systems
• Lifecycle responsibility under environmental, mining and WHS law
• GISTM influence on standard of care and regulatory expectations
• Foreseeability of tailings failure and climate-related legal risk
• Corporate liability through operational control and governance structures
• Financial assurance, rehabilitation bonds and closure provisioning
• ESG disclosure obligations and legal exposure
• Long-tail liability extending decades post-closure
10.00am - 10.30am: Panel Q&A, Networking and close
Disclaimer :
Please note that the Conference program serves as a guide.
Mines and Environment will make every reasonable effort to adhere to the advertised schedule, speakers, and topics; however, we reserve the right to modify the program, substitute speakers, or adjust session content at any time without prior notice due to unforeseen circumstances, such as the Speaker unable to attend in person
Mines and Environment accepts no liability for any loss, damage, or expenses incurred as a result of changes to the event format, program, speakers, or schedule.
Certificates of Attendance can be provided at request.