Engagement
Our shop fronts give you more ways to engage with us
Our approach
Our operations have an economic, social and environmental impact on neighbouring communities. In turn, the communities' concerns, needs, aspirations and activities impact on our business. Consultation and engagement with communities is essential and occurs in many formats including:
- community consultative committees
- Community Liaison Officers to maintain regular contact and engagement with our neighbours and towns
- Indigenous land access negotiation meetings
- Indigenous land access agreements monitoring and liaison meetings
- project-based consultation programs, particularly related to expansion projects
- formal and informal meetings with opinion leaders/NGOs and government groups
- Indigenous business and community development meetings
- community surveys
- newsletters/publications - company-wide and local
- community site tours
- freecall number in the Hunter Valley to register and seek resolution to specific complaints
- freecall community information line in the Hunter Valley
- access to information via the internet for communities relating to town infrastructure and outputs and actions from community forums.
2009 key areas of engagement
- Hunter Valley Operations South extension
- Warkworth extension
- Hunter Valley Operations Carrington West extension
- Mount Pleasant project
- Lower Hunter Lands project
Community complaints in 2009
In 2009 we recorded 115 formal complaints on issues such as blasting, dust, light, noise and odour. This was an increase from the 73 complaints lodged during 2008.
Complaints are usually fielded by our environmental officers via our free call 24 hour environment information line.
Upon receiving a complaint, we record details and notify relevant managers and personnel to identify and implement appropriate action. We keep in touch with the community member to inform them of any actions taken in regard to the issue raised. Some issues may require more time to resolve in which case we provide updates of actions and progress in resolving an issue.
Complaints during 2009 were largely recorded for blasting and dust from Bengalla and noise from Hunter Valley Operations. Mount Thorley Warkworth received a number of calls with regards dust generated in an area where earthworks were occurring. Our environmental advisors worked closely with a near neighbour to reduce the impact of this activity.
Summary of key complaints and action
