Hi Anita,
We had a small coal mine shut down some years ago, and we left the category as mining until the mining lease was cancelled. The shut down & rehabilitation phase is still a mining use, in my opinion. As is the initial start-up/construction phase when a mine opens. Also, actual mining could potentially be extended while ever the lease remains active.
It could come down to the individual circumstances though, particularly if there is another use for the land. What is the dominant use? The owner is able to request a review of the categorisation at any time so any information they might submit would need consideration.
Pumped Hydro and solar farm would be business. If this is the same site as the closing mine it could be complicated by the remaining mining use. Dominant use needs to be considered. The land with the renewables might also need to be separately valued if it’s leased by the owner to a developer.
Cheers
Ian
