Cultural heritage

Prior to any activity we work with the community to identify and manage cultural heritage values and places.

Our approach

Our cultural heritage programme ensures we meet our internal, statutory and community obligations for the identification, assessment, protection and management of Aboriginal cultural heritage values across our operations and projects.

2009 activity

In 2009 there was an increase in heritage management activities as a result of ongoing risk management requirements and several project development and operational expansion programmes. A number of planned growth project baseline assessments deferred in 2009 are now expected to be completed in 2010. The deferred activity resulted in a decrease in the number of days our cultural heritage team and consultants spent in the field during 2009.

We maintain a five year Aboriginal cultural heritage assessment buffer using baseline assessments, and a three year mitigation buffer based on planned project and operation land access requirements for all projects and current operations. There were no lost time or medical treatment injuries recorded during 2009 for the cultural heritage programme.

We implemented a cultural heritage management agreement with the Western Kangoulu Traditional Owners for the Kestrel Mine leases in 2009. Rio Tinto cultural heritage management standard assessments were conducted at three operational sites (Hail Creek, Mount Thorley Warkworth and Hunter Valley Operation).

During 2009 there were no breaches of statutory requirements for the management of Aboriginal cultural heritage. A total of four incidents involving non-conformances with Rio Tinto Coal Australia cultural heritage management procedures were reported. These incidents did not result in disturbance of Aboriginal cultural heritage. To address these non-conformances procedural requirements were reinforced with personnel through site inductions, supervisor training, toolbox discussions, and procedural and management system improvements.

Approximately 65 people were involved in our cultural heritage programme during the year.