Mining Development and Closure Proposals (*MDCP*s) will also be introduced as a key feature of the Mining Amendment Act 2022.
MDCPs will replace the requirement to provide a Mining Proposal and Mine Closure Plan at the project approval stage, reducing duplication and resulting in streamlined decision-making.
While a standalone Mine Closure Plan will no longer be required at the project approval stage under the new framework, it will still be required during the life of a mining operation and will function as an important planning tool to demonstrate an operation is tracking towards successful closure.
Guidelines for developing a MDCP were released in December 2024 to provide the industry with sufficient time to align with the new requirements.