The Mine Closure 2006 seminar will be held at the Sheraton Perth Hotel, Western Australia, September 13- 15.
More than 300 local and international mine closure professionals are attending the Seminar, the Australian Centre for Geomechanics (ACG) reports . See www.mineclosure2006.org for the seminar programme and event updates.

One of the greatest challenges facing the mining industry is the issue of the economic and socially acceptable closure of mine sites. The increasing attention being paid by the media to the legacy of abandoned mine sites has focussed public interest on mine closure issues. Approval for future mining projects will more likely be obtained if industry demonstrates it is able to close existing sites in a responsible and environmentally and socially acceptable manner.

Based at The University of Western Australia, the ACG, a not-for-profit mining research centre that promotes mine safety through geomechanics research, training and education, and the Centre for Land Rehabilitation has organised this first international seminar on mine closure. The latest approaches to mine closure from throughout the world will be presented in Perth. The comprehensive three-day programme features more than 70 presentations from leading mine owners and operators, academics, consultants and researchers including Paul Dowd (Newmont Australia), David Tongway (Australian National University), Ward Wilson (University of British Columbia) and Gavin Murray (ANZ Banking Group).

The seminar will provide a forum for local and overseas delegates to exchange views on how best to ensure that future closure of mine sites is achieved at minimum cost whilst ensuring that future environmental and social impacts are minimised. www.acg.uwa.edu.au