Community Empowerment through the Utilization of the Post- Mining Voids in Kutai Kartanegara Regency and Samarinda Municipality – East Kalimantan Province, Indonesia

The aim of this research was to analyze and describe: 1) The types of community empowerment through the utilization of the post-mining voids 2) Reasons and aspirations of the residents to utilize the voids; and 3) Impacts on the increase of the residents’ income. The research findings indicated that: 1) the types of community empowerment included: fish cage, farming business, fish ponds, agricultural irrigation, flood control as well as fulfilling the water supplies for public bathing, washing facilities and latrines purposes. Empowerment through fish cages and agriculture business opportunities revealed significant development with the many residents involved in such business. 2) Most of the residents aspired to utilize the post-mining voids due to the unemployment and the lack of water supplies during the dry season 3) Bussiness of fish cages and farming activity have a significant impact on their income. Meanwhile, the empowerment efforts done by the local Governments were considered as good. However, the empowerment which might have led to being autonomous was yet to be achieved