The iron ore sector is increasingly focused on achieving safe, stable post-mining landscapes through innovative closure strategies. Mining Area C has pioneered the ‘Finish and Fill’ approach, which integrates progressive closure into operational planning by sequentially backfilling pits as mining advances. This method minimises reliance on external waste dumps, reduces closure costs, and delivers operational efficiencies such as shorter haul distances, lower fuel consumption, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. By embedding closure into the mining sequence, the strategy transforms rehabilitation from an end-of-life activity into a continuous process, setting a benchmark for sustainable mine planning.