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Social dimensions of mining in Australia – understanding the minerals industry as a social landscape
... Cheney et al. (2002) argue that, for the power balance to be maintained, Traditional Owners should be consulted, particularly at the preliminary stages before approvals are granted. Solomon, Katz and Lovel (2008) note that governments and companies are beginning to invest more in examining community expectations and building relationships, including relationships with those who are affected but have little power over decision-making; however it is evident that genuine dialogue was never considered by Heathgate (Marsh, 2010). Further, Motion et al.'s (2012) recommendation to integrate Aboriginal Australian communicative principles, protocols and practices into public relations practice was not considered either. ...
... Although Solomon et al. (2008) support Howitt's (2001 call for greater dialogue, other theorists doubt that dialogue can be incorporated into public relations practice in all situations, including in the mining context. For Lane (2013), the dialogic theory of public relations requires the willingness of all parties to discuss any topic, openness about intentions and agendas, and a mutual desire to share power in decision-making. ...
This article uses a case study to interrogate the role of public relations in the power imbalance between a mining company and the Traditional Owners of land in Australia, and to explore how public relations could be used to strengthen the voices and reputations of disenfranchised communities. The literature review finds the practice of public relations for and by Aboriginal Australians is relatively under-researched and highlights the low level of media representation in Australia of its First Peoples in comparison with the representation of governments and corporations. Recommendations are made for further research and application, including incorporating Indigenous research methodologies and applying emerging models of public-centered and culture-centered approaches to public relations research as a means to redress the imbalance and to give voice to First Peoples.
... Within the minerals industry, a major driver for companies to improve their community engagement practices has been the desire to reduce the community risks associated with current and planned operations, and for obtaining access to new resources. Table 2 summarises the key social, community, and stakeholder engagement issues that have been identified in the Australian mining industry from a recent literature review by Solomon et al. (2007). There is increasing emphasis on engagement integrated with business planning through the life of a mining project, from exploration through to closure; and community relations has emerged as an increasingly important strategic consideration. ...
... a Compiled from a recent review of the literature (Solomon et al. 2007). ...
This chapter describes case studies of community engagement and eco-efficiency across the Australian mining and minerals industry. Eco-efficiency includes new processes, systems, and initiatives for improving air quality, energy, and materials efficiency, waste minimisation, improved waste water management, and increased water use efficiencies across several sectors of the mining and minerals processing industry. Specific findings were as follows: (1) environmental and social improvements at operations and within communities in which they operate can realise economic benefits and will not always incur a major financial cost; (2) local communities provide the means by which a mining or minerals processing operation can realise its full potential in contributing to a region's economic and social well-being; (3) improvements to waste management practises and waste prevention can lead to cost reductions or even increased revenues; (4) water efficiency improvements will be needed by any mining company planning to remain viable in the future, particularly in Australia; (5) at the operations level, there needs to be clear commitment from senior management to make the case for change to a more sustainable mining or minerals processing operation; and (6) mining companies need to work closely with businesses and suppliers to identify new processes that enhance the sustainability of their businesses.
... A recent report to CSIRO (Solomon et al., 2007) highlighted the gaps associated with research and practice in the following critical areas: Social performance; Mine site functional roles; Industry work and working conditions; Women and the mining industry; Indigenous employment and agreement-making; Public participatory processes; Community and regional development. ...
... Differences in time, place and context mean that labels such as 'community' or 'industry' tend to gloss over the diversity, conflict and division that exist. This social variety presents a challenge to understanding, and at its essence, cannot be managed (Solomon et al., 2007). Adding to the complexity, not everyone 'thinks regional'. ...
The ways in which Australia's minerals resources are used to support sustainable futures merits serious and broad discussion. This paper reviews the issues associated with minerals and sustainability and the contemporary responses to these issues by stakeholders at the global, national and local scale. A framework for integrating minerals and sustainability - the Mineral Resources Landscape - is used to map the contemporary issues and stakeholder activities relative to each other and provides a platform for discussion of further research questions required to position the Australian minerals sector as 'metals service provider' in a sustainable future. This research begins part of a three year 'Mineral Futures' collaboration between universities and CSIRO exploring commodity futures, technology futures and mineral-rich regions in transition.
... Notably, even though new LNG projects offshore from Onslow had been announced and committed, Pilbara Cities investment in the town was projected to be modest. Despite considerable academic (Solomon et al. 2007;Haslam McKenzie et al. 2009;Hajkowicz et al. 2011;Lawrie et al. 2011) and public policy attention (Department of Treasury and Finance 2007; Senate Select Committee on Housing Affordability in Australia 2008; Department of Planning and Infrastructure 2009; Department for Regional Development and Lands 2012; House of Representatives Standing Committee on Regional Australia 2013) paid to the cost of poor planning for resource boom towns and rapid population growth, it appears that despite a long lead time and the projected growth there is minimal projected public investment in Onslow. This paper will review the anticipated impacts of gas development in Onslow. ...
This paper reviews the complex and multifaceted adjustment pressures being experienced by Onslow, a small, remote town in Western Australia's Pilbara, as a result of a large gas development. Some members of the community are enthusiastic about the opportunities that the gas industry will bring, although the majority are wary of the negative impacts of rapid growth and corporate dominance observed in other Pilbara towns during the mining boom. The paper reports on the strategies being utilised by the company, the different spheres of government and the local community representatives in order to come to an agreement about how to achieve enduring community value so that the aesthetic attributes of the town and quality of life in Onslow will be enhanced, while also accommodating a large constructive workforce which will leave within a short time (4 years). Using data collected about the Pilbara and the socio-economic impacts of the mining industry on other towns, the lessons learned from rapid growth elsewhere were applied in Onslow and the outcomes assessed and reported. It is evident that the community engagement strategies and the collaborative planning processes have been undermined by disconnects between commercial imperatives, governance frameworks, investment risk and timeframes.
... Social impact assessment (SIA) studies are most commonly conducted prior to the approval of large projects in order to predict and mitigate major social issues (Dale, Chapman & McDonald, 1997). As such, such studies are rarely able to offer either comparative analysis of multiple communities exposed to mine development or, alternatively, of the cumulative impacts on individual towns of multiple mine developments (Solomon, Katz & Lovel, 2007). The single project focus of most SIA studies makes it difficult for policy makers to draw more general conclusions about how communities might be impacted upon during fluctuations in commodity cycles when there are broad scale changes in the level of employment and activity, including contributions from specific project developments. ...
Mining activities in Australia tend to be cyclical, with boom and bust times impacting upon associated communities. However, little information exists to classify key impacts or to identify how they vary across mining service towns. In this paper, qualitative social impact assessment techniques have been used to independently assess post-development impacts of mining on six communities in the Bowen Basin in Queensland, following the boom in coal prices between 2003 and 2008. The communities are similar in that they all have at least one mine in the vicinity and have more male than female residents but they differ in town histories, and the size plus growth rate of both their permanent and temporary populations. While the mining boom has been generating social and economic impacts, the pattern of the impacts appears to vary across communities depending on the size of the impact, community structure and history, and the extent to which a non-resident workforce is involved.
... However , little is known about women living in atypical environs of remote mining towns in Australia. A study has identified women as one of the several issues of social science research that is underresearched within the domain of the mining industry in Australia (Solomon et al, 2007). Statistical information provided by census and surveys plays a vital role in determining human development at all levels. ...
The select indicators of gender equity from the Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2006 reveal that women of the mining towns of the Bowen Basin region of central Queensland are at a substantial social and economic disadvantage to men. Through a review of select social science literature on mining communities the paper examines work, family and community structures and processes that promote and sustain patriarchy in mining communities and within households that could negatively influence mental health and relationship wellbeing of women in mining towns. This is a relatively neglected field of inquiry in the social impact assessment processes of large-scale mining in Australia. The paper suggests areas of research and policy initiatives to enhance women's economic self-sufficiency, gender equality and wellbeing. Yes Yes
Labour shortages have become an increasingly significant barrier to economic development in regional Australia. Many firms and government agencies are operating below capacity as a result of their inability to fill jobs. In the mineral resources sector, this has been compounded by rapidly rising demand for commodities and the very remote locations of many mine sites. This paper explores the dynamics of labour shortages in the minerals sector of the Western Australian Goldfields. It demonstrates close linkages between commodity price, labour supply and demand, and resource output. Against the background of a state-wide ‘resources boom’, the paper also points to an increase in intra- and inter- regional competition for labour.
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