Engagement
Our approach to community engagement involves providing information about our activities in a timely, clear, open and transparent manner as well as seeking feedback from communities to understand potential impacts, so they can be avoided or mitigated.
Communication activities during 2007 included:
- Community newsletters and fact sheets for the Kestrel Mine Extension project, Mount Pleasant project, Hunter Valley South project and the Lower Hunter lands project.
- Clermont Conveyor newsletter for the Clermont community providing updates on the Clermont Mine Project and Blair Athol Mine.
- Community Development Fund annual reports outlining projects supported and their outcomes.
- Redevelopment of Rio Tinto Coal Australia website, including key information about our operations, publications and contact details.
Read these publications in our media centre.
RTCA has found its community consultative committees to be an important and effective way of consulting with local communities. Separate committees are now in place at the Mount Pleasant Project, Mount Thorley Warkworth and Hunter Valley Operations in NSW and at Blair Athol Mine and Clermont Mine project in Queensland. A committee is also planned for the Kestrel Mine and will be established in 2008. The committees provide a forum for RTCA and its local communities to share information and provide feedback on existing or proposed activities.
Other consultation activities during 2007 included:
- Clermont Preferred Futures project - RTCA was a participant in this project led by Belyando Shire Council
- Lower Hunter Lands project
- The Mount Pleasant Project Environmental Management Plans (EMPs) are being developed with input from community members, interest groups, government bodies and key stakeholders. Five focus groups were established to gather feedback on a range of environmental issues for input into the Mount Pleasant Project's EMPs. Participants will be provided with updates as the plans are developed in 2008.