Planning for mine closure: Socio‐economic impacts

Mining Work, Family and Community: A Spatially-Oriented Approach to the Impact of the Ravensthorpe Nickel Mine Closure in Remote Australia

“…They demonstrated how the special character of wage labour and the particular features of (coal) mining emphasized certain potentialities of the nuclear family form and inhibited others. Warwick and Littlejohn (1992: 2) replicated this study, mapping the linkages between individuals and households on the grounds of common mining working conditions, kinship, propinquity and friendship, and the development of common traditions, sentiments and values. Also indicative of literature examining mining work and communities is Claire Williams’ (1981) feminist Marxist study of two open-cut coal mines in central Queensland between 1974 and 1975.…”

“…While uncertainty and distress are all too commonplace when mines, even with years of planning, cease operations (Laurence, 2006;Pini et al, 2010;Warhurst et al, 1999), these impacts were amplified in Ravensthorpe. One factor augmenting distress was that mine workers, unaware of the impending closure, were continuing to be relocated to the area until the eve of the official announcement: 'It was supposed to be my first day.…”

“…Mines are notoriously vulnerable not only to planned closures as a result of diminished natural resources, metallurgical problems, environmental requirements and rising labour costs, but to sudden closures due to accidents, health and safety concerns and natural disasters (Keyes, 1992). Empirical work on mine closures indicates an inevitably immediate and significant negative economic impact, such as diminished local tax revenue, physical infrastructure and social services, the loss of local businesses and plummeting real estate values (Andrews-Speed et al, 2005;Laurence, 2006;Warhurst et al, 1999). The literature on mine closures has focused predominantly on the nature of these economic impacts and, to a more limited extent, on social impacts such as rising crime and alcoholism (Laurence, 2006).…”

“…The literature on mine closures has focused predominantly on the nature of these economic impacts and, to a more limited extent, on social impacts such as rising crime and alcoholism (Laurence, 2006). The extent of these economic, social and psychological impacts of mine closures in terms of effective community adaptation are dependent on the lifespan of the mine and the degree to which the local economy has become dependent on the mine (Warhurst et al, 1999), but also on the structuring policies and approaches of the mining company, unions, government and the community. Important determinants of adaptation and preparing a community for mine closure are multiskilling and diversification of the local economy, early warning and forward planning, and the provision of services such as counselling, retraining, job search and relocation assistance (Andrews-Speed et al, 2005;.…”

Is There Sustainable Development after Mining? A Case Study of Three Mining Areas in the Apuseni Region (Romania)

“…In order to describe the evolutionary trends of the mining communities in the three study areas, the social, economic, and environmental driving factors of sustainable development were explored over a 52-year time span. This period of time was chosen because the published literature [22] has shown that the life span of mines also influenced the degree of social and economic problems that will be analyzed in this paper.…”