A long battle by local councils in resource areas of Queensland may be coming to an end as as parliament is set to vote next month on legislation proposing to ban 100 percent fly in fly out mining work forces.
The Strong and Sustainable Resource Communities Bill is due to enter its second reading stage on 4 August, prompting renewed interest in how mining companies go about their social license to operate in Queensland.
The legislation would end the practice of mine workers being forced to travel long distances to and from the projects where they are employed, effectively living outside the community whose local infrastructure is most affected by their activities.
Isaac Mayor Anne Baker, who has been at the forefront of the fight to end 100 percent fly in fly out from the beginning, told local media this week that the purpose of the campaign was the “allow individuals to make their own living decisions”.
The LGAQ is pushing the Government to use the legislation as an opportunity to ensure resource companies are obliged to consider the social impacts of their projects as much as they need to consider environmental impacts.
In its submission on the Bill, the LGAQ said: “In particular, Queensland must adopt an adaptive management approach to managing social impacts, one that sees resource project proponents manage the impacts of their activities on communities throughout the life of their projects”.
“The LGAQ believes a resource project’s social licence to operate must include having an approved plan for managing the impacts of its activities on people.”
The legislation would require large mining operators to prepare a social impact assessment of their project, including factors such as community engagement, workforce management and housing and accommodation.