MAC’s considered approach to closure has become a drawcard for people wanting to create a positive legacy and set a new standard for mine closures. One of those drawn to this challenge is Approvals, Land Access and Heritage team Principal Approvals, Sarah Clibborn, who said her career has come full circle with her return to MAC to support the closure process.

Sarah grew up in the Hunter Valley and studied Environmental Science at Newcastle University. In 2006, she joined MAC as an Environment Coordinator responsible for a wide range of environmental monitoring activities including groundwater, surface water, dust, noise, blasting, cultural heritage, ecology, and pest and weed management. In 2009, she left MAC to pursue other opportunities.

When MAC announced its closure, Sarah was working at the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI). She was invited to attend a MAC led workshop with government stakeholders to discuss the pathway to closure. At this workshop she reconnected with MAC colleagues who piqued her interest in the opportunity to come back and help with the interesting and complex work involved with closure.

So, in 2023, Sarah returned to MAC, which she said was a strange kind of déjà vu.

“While some areas were exactly the same, others had changed significantly. The former lunchrooms had become offices, Edderton Road and access to Mt Arthur had moved, the office area had doubled in size, and the pit had expanded significantly west,” said Sarah.

In her new role as the Principal Approvals for Approvals, Land Access & Heritage Sarah has a broad remit which draws on the culmination of her experience and comes with a strong strategic focus on closure planning.

“I really love seeing what’s happening though, our approach has been very collaborative; we’re genuinely talking and listening to people to try and objectively identify the most beneficial future land uses.”

From a heritage perspective, Sarah said MAC will be working with the Wonnarua Indigenous community to determine the future of artefacts salvaged from the site over the years.

“We want to ensure young Indigenous people can learn from and reconnect with these artefacts so we’ll be exploring options such as repatriation, display and education” she said.

Like many MAC teammates, Sarah is committed to helping shape a positive closure legacy.

“There’s a lot of work happening in the background at the moment and I’m looking forward to seeing that hard work come to fruition,” she said.

“I’m emotionally invested in doing a good job.”

“MAC was my first onsite role, and now to return almost twenty years later to help ensure a positive legacy for the town that has hosted this operation for such a long time is very rewarding.”