A guide to leading practice sustainable development in mining

For Indigenous recruits, cross-cultural training introduces them to the expectations
of the mining industry, especially in relation to:
workplace health and safety.
site entry requirements.
operational procedures and work expectations.
Cross-cultural awareness training introduces non-Indigenous recruits to industry
expectations with regard to:
recognising and maintaining respectful relationships with Traditional Owners.
protecting Aboriginal cultural heritage.
adhering to environmental regulations.
Coming together to learn about each other’s cultures is one important way of building
relationships between people from different cultural backgrounds. It can also assist the
company in its environmental assessment of culturally and ecologically sensitive areas.
Agreements between mining companies and Indigenous people with rights and
interests in land and waters are the most practical approach to finding ways
to accommodate each other’s interests. Many companies now formalise their
relationship with land connected to Indigenous people through agreement making,
whether motivated by legislative requirement, enlightened self interest and/or risk
management. The Australian Government also strongly encourages negotiation of
agreements over litigation as the way to resolve mining interface with native title
and other Aboriginal land interests.
Agreements allow parties to negotiate outcomes to ensure that they reach solutions
which meet their respective needs. Agreements provide mining companies with
secure land access, which they need if they are to invest large sums in high-risk,
long-term mining ventures. They also recognise the interests of Indigenous people
who have maintained strong connections to the land and waters where, as a matter
of law, their native title no longer exists, or only survives in a limited way.
The relationship between mining companies and Indigenous communities has
improved enormously in recent years. Increasingly, negotiations are focused on
mutually beneficial outcomes and the development of sustainable relationships.
Both parties have developed new competences in negotiation and engagement and
are increasingly focused on developing agreements that will enhance the ability of
Indigenous communities to participate in the economic life of the region. An example
of the change in participation rate in the economy is provided by Rio Tinto. In the mid
1990s, less than 0.5 per cent of Rio Tinto’s Australian workforce was Indigenous much
less than the approximately 900 (seven per cent) in 2007 (see LP Indigenous p.69).
Predicting Acid and Metalliferous Drainage
Introduction
The primary purpose of a geochemical assessment of mine materials is to guide
management decisions. Therefore, it is critical that a phased assessment program is
carried out to ensure sufficient data are available at all phases of the project cycle.
Leading practice can only be achieved through early recognition of the potential for AMD.
46 LEADING PRACTICE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR THE MINING INDUSTRY