This paper will present key findings from a comparative study of community engagement processes at Australian mining operations. The study, which is currently being undertaken by a team of University of Queensland researchers, is funded through the Australian Research Council and is being supported by four of Australia’s leading mining companies. The focus of the study is on how community engagement is being practised ‘on the ground’ in the industry. There are eight mining and minerals processing operations involved in the research. Preliminary findings are reported in this paper as they relate to: • the rationale for community engagement from the operational perspective • the nature of communications, informing or more interactive exchanges • public cynicism and/or non-engagement • diverse and/or fragmented communities. Overall, these results illustrate that mining and minerals processing operations have multiple levels of motivation for engaging with their local communities. Effective community engagement relies heavily on the personal commitment by individual community engagement officers. However, the nature of community interaction is reliant on the support of the operation’s General Manger, and can vary markedly across operational areas. Interaction with the different levels of local community – such as individuals, stakeholder groups and Shire representatives – varies widely in each case study. Many of the communities we visited needed support to engage with the mining operations in a formal manner. Public distrust and cynicism toward large corporations can be addressed; for example, by demonstrating respect for community concerns. Most community interviewees were ‘matter of fact’ about the benefits companies receive from community engagement and community support, expressing neither an overt distrust nor a naïve faith in the company goodwill. Beach et al., Community Engagement Practices in the Australian Minerals Industry, ICEC 2005 1.
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