Queensland Mine Rehabilitation Commissioner James Purtill recently set out his vision for turning mine closure into industry opportunity.
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.
The commissioner’s office prioritises collaboration over enforcement, enabling open discussion with mining operators about what works and what does not. This approach allows systemic challenges to be identified across the sector without the threat of compliance action.
This independence, Purtill said, has been critical in fostering candid dialogue and practical solutions.
One of the most significant challenges in mine rehabilitation is achieving the successful surrender of mining leases. Complex geology and geochemistry, long operational histories and legacy practices can make closure difficult.
Queensland, for example, has only seen one small coal mine successfully surrendered under contemporary environmental regulations.
Purtill said these challenges are not unique to Queensland but reflect broader global experience, highlighting the need for more proactive planning and innovative approaches.
He said his office works as a “two-speed advisory service”. For new greenfield operations, the team provides guidance on embedding best practices from the start. For existing, long-running mines, the focus is on retrofitting leading practices where possible.
This dual approach is designed to ensure that even legacy issues can be addressed constructively while supporting industry growth.
The commissioner is also driving a vision for Queensland to become a global leader in mine rehabilitation.
By integrating lessons learned internationally and collaborating with stakeholders, the state aims to maintain a healthy, economically viable industry while managing environmental responsibilities.
This vision is reflected in innovative projects such as New Century’s reprocessing of tailings at the Century zinc mine, which has allowed the site to become one of the world’s largest zinc producers through re-mining.
Likewise, EQ Resources’ Mount Carbine tungsten project demonstrates circular economy principles by extracting value from low-grade stockpiles and reusing benign materials for construction.
Part of Purtill’s role is to find what barriers exist that are stopping these innovative post-mining land uses or reprocessing projects.
Financial provisioning remains a central consideration in effective mine closure. Auditor-general reports across Australian jurisdictions consistently show shortfalls in provision levels, and Purtill highlighted the importance of balancing affordability with adequate coverage of potential liabilities.
Progressive rehabilitation is a key strategy to manage costs and reduce future risks, helping to ensure funds are spent efficiently and responsibly.
Tailings management is another area where opportunity and responsibility intersect. Purtill said tailings, while challenging to manage, contain significant potential for resource recovery in the future.
Advances in technology and market demand mean materials previously considered waste can be reprocessed for valuable metals, making tailings an asset rather than solely a liability.
By combining environmental stewardship with innovation, planning and collaboration, Queensland is positioning itself as a world leader in mine closure, turning complex challenges into long-term benefits for industry and the community.
This feature appeared in the November issue of Australian Mining magazine. Get 50 per cent off your Australian Mining annual magazine subscription during our Black Friday sale. Visit our subscription page and use the code: AMBF25. Ends on 27 November 2025.
