Published Sunday, 31 August, 2008 at 12:00 AM
Premier
The Honourable Anna Bligh
Bligh Govt’s $100M move to improve mining towns
Blackwater: The Queensland Government today paved the way for State, local Government and industry to work together to better manage the social consequences of resource development on rural and regional communities.
Premier Anna Bligh said the historic Sustainable Resource Communities Agreement – signed in Blackwater - would strengthen partnerships between government, industry and local communities and improve the regulatory environment for social impact assessment for new resource developments.
“It will be backed by a $100 million funding program over three years for economic and social infrastructure in regional and rural communities in key mining areas.
“Projects may included new or upgraded roads, schools and health facilities,” she said.
The Partnership Agreement signatories are the State Government, Local Government Association of Queensland and the Queensland Resources Council.
“This Agreement will be implemented by Partnership Groups which will include representatives from the State, relevant councils, LGAQ and the Queensland Resources Council.
“The first Group meeting will be in Moranbah on 11 September 2008”.
“Today’s announcement and its subsequent outcomes are largely driven because of Member for Fitzroy Jim Pearce’s urgings.
“He urged a greater focus by all on the mining regions and this signing is the start of what will be a great outcome,” she said.
“The Agreement will improve the social impact assessment process not only for individual proposed mines, but also the link between assessments and strategic regional planning.
Ms Bligh said that - in short - the Sustainable Resource Communities Agreement will mean:
? legislative amendments empowering the Minister for Mines and Energy to legally require the development of social impact plans to apply for all new mines and major expansions (anything requiring an EIS)
? a $100 million three-year program for economic and social infrastructure; and
? establishment of the Partnership Groups with councils and the QRC to share strategic information and develop solutions to social issues.
“Many resource development companies are contributing to local communities and take their corporate social responsibility very seriously,” Ms Bligh said.
“But there are some operators that need to be compelled to address the impacts that their operations, especially their workforces, have at a regional level.”
“It’s envisaged that the Agreement’s Social Impact Plans will outline forecast changes to communities in terms of local and cumulative effects, the agreed strategies for mitigating the effects and the responsibility of various parties, including commitments from industry.
“The plans will be developed through the social impact assessment requirement under the Environmental Impact Statement process, with the proponent responsible developing the plan rather than the Government dictating what the plan should contain.”
“Industry will be consulted before any legislative amendments are undertaken.
“State and local governments also have an obligation to work with resource companies and communities to address the regional impacts of rapid development and the Agreement is designed to address this too,” Ms Bligh said.
“We are in the midst of an unprecedented economic boom, mainly thanks to strong demand for our natural resources from China, India and Japan,” Ms Bligh said.
“The boom has translated into a huge boost for regional economies, providing jobs, boosting local business development and increasing populations.
“However, the boom has also created its fair share of challenges, including increased demand on health and education services, housing availability, rental costs, labour availability and increased traffic on our roads.
“For example, rapid expansion of the mining industry in the Bowen Basin and associated population growth has had a significant impact on local communities. The basin’s population has increased by over 1700 people in 12 months. And this is placing immense pressure on the region’s social resources, particularly housing,” Ms Bligh said.
“Similar issues are arising in the coastal towns benefiting most from the mining boom, including Mackay, Rockhampton and Gladstone and are likely to emerge in other resource areas, such as the Surat Basin and the North West Minerals Province.
The Minister for Regional Development and Industry Desley Boyle, will be meeting annually with resource communities Mayors to discuss ongoing and emerging issues associated with resource development. The first meeting is planned for late September.
“Regional development is a key priority of my Government and cooperation between all levels of government is essential to drive the regional development agenda.
“I congratulate all parties, particularly Mayors, the Local Government Association of Queensland and the Queensland Resources Council, for coming together to drive the Agreement and ultimately to promote sustainable development in resource communities,” she said.
Media contact: 3224 2007 or 3225 1005
Sustainable Resource Communities Policy – Key Initiatives
Strengthening the State Government’s Coordination Role
• Establishment of a social impact assessment function in Government to:
Provide a coordinated whole-of-government response to selected new and expanded mining and petroleum developments.
Assist in negotiating Social Impact Plans relating to the grant of mining tenure where appropriate.
• Develop a Major Projects Housing Policy to address the availability and supply of housing to support major projects and to guide investment in the provision of housing.
Improving Links between Social Impact Assessment and Regional Planning
• Accelerate the preparation and/or review of strategic regional and local area plans which provide the frameworks within which the land use implications arising from resource development proposals can be addressed for individual projects.
• Build capacity and capability in land use planning at a local government level as part of the Government’s local government reform initiative to improve strategic planning for the impacts of mining operations on local communities.
• Release the Coal Infrastructure Strategic Plan to ensure infrastructure provision is not an impediment to major new and expanded mining and petroleum developments.
Fostering Partnerships with Government, Industry and Community
• Establish a Partnership Group with local government and industry to share strategic information and develop solutions to social issues.
• Establish local Leadership Groups to focus on regional planning issues and key projects that will address cumulative or regional issues arising from resource development.
• Undertake research into best practice, contemporary social sustainability assessment and solutions in the mining and petroleum industries.
• A senior, dedicated Government officer, located in Emerald, was appointed as the Government’s representative in the region, to liaise with local government, industry and the community and provide administrative support for the partnership and local leadership groups.
Improving the Regulatory Environment for Social Impact Assessment
• Prepare legislative amendments empowering the Minister for Mines and Energy to legally require the development of social impact plans to apply for all new mines and major expansions (anything requiring an EIS).
• Modify the trigger criteria for the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement under the Environmental Protection Act. These triggers are being reviewed in consultation with industry. Any Social Impact Plan would be conducted as an element of an Environmental Impact Statement.
• Develop guidelines which will provide guidance to proponents of selected major new and expanded mining and petroleum developments in the preparation of Social Impact Plans and guidance to Government in reviewing and evaluating Social Impact Plans.
Premier Anna Bligh said the historic Sustainable Resource Communities Agreement – signed in Blackwater - would strengthen partnerships between government, industry and local communities and improve the regulatory environment for social impact assessment for new resource developments.
“It will be backed by a $100 million funding program over three years for economic and social infrastructure in regional and rural communities in key mining areas.
“Projects may included new or upgraded roads, schools and health facilities,” she said.
The Partnership Agreement signatories are the State Government, Local Government Association of Queensland and the Queensland Resources Council.
“This Agreement will be implemented by Partnership Groups which will include representatives from the State, relevant councils, LGAQ and the Queensland Resources Council.
“The first Group meeting will be in Moranbah on 11 September 2008”.
“Today’s announcement and its subsequent outcomes are largely driven because of Member for Fitzroy Jim Pearce’s urgings.
“He urged a greater focus by all on the mining regions and this signing is the start of what will be a great outcome,” she said.
“The Agreement will improve the social impact assessment process not only for individual proposed mines, but also the link between assessments and strategic regional planning.
Ms Bligh said that - in short - the Sustainable Resource Communities Agreement will mean:
? legislative amendments empowering the Minister for Mines and Energy to legally require the development of social impact plans to apply for all new mines and major expansions (anything requiring an EIS)
? a $100 million three-year program for economic and social infrastructure; and
? establishment of the Partnership Groups with councils and the QRC to share strategic information and develop solutions to social issues.
“Many resource development companies are contributing to local communities and take their corporate social responsibility very seriously,” Ms Bligh said.
“But there are some operators that need to be compelled to address the impacts that their operations, especially their workforces, have at a regional level.”
“It’s envisaged that the Agreement’s Social Impact Plans will outline forecast changes to communities in terms of local and cumulative effects, the agreed strategies for mitigating the effects and the responsibility of various parties, including commitments from industry.
“The plans will be developed through the social impact assessment requirement under the Environmental Impact Statement process, with the proponent responsible developing the plan rather than the Government dictating what the plan should contain.”
“Industry will be consulted before any legislative amendments are undertaken.
“State and local governments also have an obligation to work with resource companies and communities to address the regional impacts of rapid development and the Agreement is designed to address this too,” Ms Bligh said.
“We are in the midst of an unprecedented economic boom, mainly thanks to strong demand for our natural resources from China, India and Japan,” Ms Bligh said.
“The boom has translated into a huge boost for regional economies, providing jobs, boosting local business development and increasing populations.
“However, the boom has also created its fair share of challenges, including increased demand on health and education services, housing availability, rental costs, labour availability and increased traffic on our roads.
“For example, rapid expansion of the mining industry in the Bowen Basin and associated population growth has had a significant impact on local communities. The basin’s population has increased by over 1700 people in 12 months. And this is placing immense pressure on the region’s social resources, particularly housing,” Ms Bligh said.
“Similar issues are arising in the coastal towns benefiting most from the mining boom, including Mackay, Rockhampton and Gladstone and are likely to emerge in other resource areas, such as the Surat Basin and the North West Minerals Province.
The Minister for Regional Development and Industry Desley Boyle, will be meeting annually with resource communities Mayors to discuss ongoing and emerging issues associated with resource development. The first meeting is planned for late September.
“Regional development is a key priority of my Government and cooperation between all levels of government is essential to drive the regional development agenda.
“I congratulate all parties, particularly Mayors, the Local Government Association of Queensland and the Queensland Resources Council, for coming together to drive the Agreement and ultimately to promote sustainable development in resource communities,” she said.
Media contact: 3224 2007 or 3225 1005
Sustainable Resource Communities Policy – Key Initiatives
Strengthening the State Government’s Coordination Role
• Establishment of a social impact assessment function in Government to:
Provide a coordinated whole-of-government response to selected new and expanded mining and petroleum developments.
Assist in negotiating Social Impact Plans relating to the grant of mining tenure where appropriate.
• Develop a Major Projects Housing Policy to address the availability and supply of housing to support major projects and to guide investment in the provision of housing.
Improving Links between Social Impact Assessment and Regional Planning
• Accelerate the preparation and/or review of strategic regional and local area plans which provide the frameworks within which the land use implications arising from resource development proposals can be addressed for individual projects.
• Build capacity and capability in land use planning at a local government level as part of the Government’s local government reform initiative to improve strategic planning for the impacts of mining operations on local communities.
• Release the Coal Infrastructure Strategic Plan to ensure infrastructure provision is not an impediment to major new and expanded mining and petroleum developments.
Fostering Partnerships with Government, Industry and Community
• Establish a Partnership Group with local government and industry to share strategic information and develop solutions to social issues.
• Establish local Leadership Groups to focus on regional planning issues and key projects that will address cumulative or regional issues arising from resource development.
• Undertake research into best practice, contemporary social sustainability assessment and solutions in the mining and petroleum industries.
• A senior, dedicated Government officer, located in Emerald, was appointed as the Government’s representative in the region, to liaise with local government, industry and the community and provide administrative support for the partnership and local leadership groups.
Improving the Regulatory Environment for Social Impact Assessment
• Prepare legislative amendments empowering the Minister for Mines and Energy to legally require the development of social impact plans to apply for all new mines and major expansions (anything requiring an EIS).
• Modify the trigger criteria for the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement under the Environmental Protection Act. These triggers are being reviewed in consultation with industry. Any Social Impact Plan would be conducted as an element of an Environmental Impact Statement.
• Develop guidelines which will provide guidance to proponents of selected major new and expanded mining and petroleum developments in the preparation of Social Impact Plans and guidance to Government in reviewing and evaluating Social Impact Plans.