The sector has developed a Code of Practice for Community and Stakeholder Engagement, which was launched in Adelaide last Friday.

South Australian Chamber of Mines and Energy (SACOME) chief executive, Jason Kuchel, said that the resources industry, through SACOME, had been proactive in developing principles and guidelines for community engagement.

“The industry recognises it is not enough to do just the bare minimum when it comes to engaging with the communities in which they work,” Mr Kuchel said. “We have developed this Code of Practice and guidelines for resources companies committed, or planning to commit to best practice when they engage with communities.”

The Code is designed to encourage resource industry companies to:

n Establish meaningful relationships with their stakeholders and communities to improve decision-making related to their activities;

n Gain local knowledge about a range of issues that could be important to an exploration or mining proposal or project;

n Reduce concern, doubt or confusion in the community that may otherwise exist in relation to such a proposal or project;

n Demonstrate a level of community understanding and support sometimes known as the “social licence to operate” and

n Meet regulatory expectations.

“We know what happens when community engagement is not adequately conducted,” Mr Kuchel said. “Some resources companies have learnt the hard way that community engagement must be conducted well and communities engaged from the very first moment that any activity is scheduled to take place,” he said.

“Those companies that embrace the principles expressed in the Code of Practice now have another way to demonstrate commitment to their communities and stakeholders.

“We hope that having now developed this Code of Practice and guidelines, that the South Australian resources industry can lead the nation in best practice community engagement.”