DPI Update (Issue 66)

JOHN MITAS, General Manager Minerals & Extractive Operations, looks at the issue of Community Engagement.

DPI recognises that engagement with communities and key stakeholders is critical to ensuring that our communities have the information they need to understand the impacts of the earth resources industries on them and have opportunities to make their views known.

Section 39A of the Mineral Resources (Sustainable Development) Act 1990 outlines a licensee’s Duty to Consult with [the] community throughout the course of the licence. The licensee is required to provide a reasonable opportunity for affected communities to express their views about the activities permitted by the licence.

Where a work authority is required for more intrusive exploration activities, a formal community engagement plan is required as part of that application. Schedule 13 of the Mineral Resources Development Regulations 2002 outlines the requirement for a work authority community engagement plan.

The plan must:

• Identify the community likely to be affected by mining activities authorised by the licence and
• Include proposals for:
  • Identifying community attitudes and expectations and
  • Providing information to the community and
  • Receiving feedback from the community and
  • Analysing community concerns or expectations in relation to activities authorised by the licence and:
• Include a proposal for registering, documenting and responding to complaints and other communications from members of the community in relation to mining activities authorised by the licence.

Guidance on the detailed preparation of community engagement plans is offered in publications like Community Engagement: Guidelines for Mining and Mineral Exploration in Victoria and through online tools such as the Community Engagement Plan template that can be downloaded from the DPI website.

Like other work authority elements, community engagement plans are subject to audit and ERRV will target their audit activities during the first half of 2013 on work authority community engagement plans.

ERRV’s district inspectors will be examining a cross section of Community Engagement plans across all of Victoria’s Earth Resources Districts to ensure that the community engagement commitments in approved work plans are being effectively delivered.

The audit will also allow good practice in community engagement in Victoria’s earth resources sector to be identified and promoted to the industry in general.

For more information please contact
Mark Ritch, Program Manager Community Engagement on mark.ritch@dpi.vic.gov.au or Phone (03) 9098 5860.

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