Environmental requirements for Mine Rehabilitation and Closure – Mineral Resources
Once a mineral resource is depleted or operational mining is no longer required, the mine site must be decommissioned, all areas rehabilitated, made safe and stable, and be ready for future land uses. This is known as mine rehabilitation and closure and is a requirement for all mine sites in Western Australia under the Mining Act 1978.
The Department of Mining, Petroleum and Exploration (DMPE) requires tenement holders to plan for mine rehabilitation and closure, which is demonstrated through preparing and lodging a Mine Closure Plan (MCP) to the department. Information on how to prepare and lodge a Mine Closure Plan is provided below.
Prepare a Mine Closure Plan
The due date for submission of a Mine Closure Plan will be specified on the Approvals Statement issued following assessment of the MDCP. In circumstances where an Approvals Statement has not been issued for a project (i.e. operating under existing approvals) the due date for submission of a Mine Closure Plan will continue to be specified via tenement conditions. As of 9 September 2025, all Mine Closure Plans must be prepared in accordance with the department’s Guideline for Preparing Mine Closure Plans. The new guidelines, developed in association with the Mining Development and Closure Proposal Framework supersedes the 2020 Statutory Guidelines and the 2015 Guidelines for Mine Closure Plans.
Please note rehabilitation of disturbances due to exploration activities approved under a Programme of Work (PoW) are not required to be discussed in MCPs, this rehabilitation is regulated as per the PoW conditions of approval and tenement conditions.
DMPE also recommends reading the WA Biodiversity Science Institute publication, A framework for developing mine-site completion criteria in WA for further guidance on developing completion criteria.
Always check the department’s website for the latest Guidelines for preparing Mine Closure Plans before you prepare the MCP for submission. This will ensure you meet the current regulatory requirements.
Small Mining Operations Mine Closure Plans
For small mining operations (as defined in DMPE’s Policy Small Mining Operations) that are required to submit a Mine Closure Plan as specified on the Approvals Statement or via tenement conditions the DMPE has developed a Mine Closure Plan for Small Mining Operation form.
The completed template must be lodged through Resources Online.
Does your MCP contain confidential information?
If you are preparing an MCP that includes confidential information (e.g. commercially or culturally sensitive, intellectual property), this information should be removed from the MCP document and submitted as a separate document along with the MCP. Any confidential documents should be clearly marked as confidential. DMPE will assess both the MCP and confidential information, however marking documents as ‘confidential’ will ensure they are not released outside the department.
Lodge a Mine Closure Plan
Mine Closure Plans are to be lodged through Resources Online by the due date as recorded on the Approvals Statement or as specified in tenement conditions.
What happens after I lodge an MCP?
Once an MCP is lodged, it will be registered and reviewed to ensure it meets DMPE requirements as per the Guidance. Where an MCP meets the guidance requirements, it will be accepted and a future submission date for a revision MCP will be set by DMPE.
DMPE will provide notification in writing of the outcome of all MCP reviews once completed, often with recommendations for improvements to be made in the next submission. If you have not received written confirmation of the outcome of your Mine Closure Plan submission and would like an update, contact the relevant regional team.
Revision Mine Closure Plans
The Mining Act 1978 requires Mine Closure Plans are periodically revised and resubmitted to DMPE. Revision MCPs are prepared and then lodged for assessment as outlined above.
Always check the department’s website for the latest Guideline for Preparing Mine Closure Plans before you prepare the MCP for submission. This will ensure you meet the current regulatory requirements.
Implementing rehabilitation and closure for mines
Once an area / disturbance is no longer required, it should be rehabilitated as soon as practicable. Progressive rehabilitation of mining operations is expected to occur in accordance with the latest Mine Closure Plan accepted by the department.
Rehabilitation and closure activities and performance monitoring against completion criteria are reported to DMPE as part of environmental reporting for the mine, in accordance with tenement conditions and environmental approvals.
Once rehabilitation has been completed and monitoring indicates the closure outcomes and completion criteria have been met you can prepare and lodge a Mine Closure Completion Report to commence the process of relinquishment to release from environmental obligations.
View an approved Mine Closure Plan
Once accepted, Mine Closure Plans are made publicly available via the DEMIRS website (excluding any information that is clearly marked as confidential). These can be searched for using MINEDEX (Mines and minerals deposits).
From 9 September 2025, accepted Mine Closure Plans lodged through Resources Online are made publicly available through Resources Online public search.
Further guidance
The department has additional information available to support developing a Mine Closure Plan. Selected guidance is included below.
Mine Safety Guidelines Directory
Safety guidance – tailings storage facilities
Environmental Objectives Policy for Mining - March 2020 (REC-EC-117D)
A framework for developing mine-site completion criteria in WA
Environmental note Acid Mine Drainage
Environmental Note - Waste Rock Dumps
Safety Bund Walls around open pit mines
Mine Closure Plan tables
Print this page
