The Wandoan Coal Project’s Social Impact Management Plan (SIMP) is available for viewing. The public comment period closed on 25 March 2011. Responses to the draft were considered and any changes and additions were made in consultation with relevant groups. Following these inclusions, Xstrata Coal provided the SIMP to the Coordinator-General’s office for comment. THe final SIMP is now available
The SIMP covers activities that will be undertaken during the proposed mine's construction and at the beginning of operations. The SIMP is an evolving document that will be reviewed and revised over time to ensure that emerging issues are understood and managed appropriately.
It incorporates both the positive and negative social impacts identified in the Environmental Impact Study (EIS) undertaken in 2008 and consultation with a broad range of stakeholders undertaken since. The SIMP combines these identified impacts with social and community-related commitments made by the Project into one management plan.
The role of the SIMP
The SIMP establishes the role and responsibilities of Xstrata Coal Queensland, government, stakeholders and communities in mitigating and managing social impacts and opportunities during the construction and operational phases of the proposed coal mining operation.
In general terms, a SIMP provides a program that will:
- avoid or reduce negative social impacts
- maximise positive social impacts
- monitor effectiveness of mitigation strategies.
Xstrata Coal will use seven over-arching initiatives to reduce the negative social impacts of the Project and to uphold its Business Principles, including:
- monitoring social impacts and other social issues and co-developing management initiatives with government and the community
- ensuring Project employment, training and business benefits include a focus on local communities
- supporting enterprise development to foster a strong local economy
- sponsoring and giving to local community organisations
- setting strong behaviour protocols for employees
- minimising impacts on landholders where practicable
- being responsive to community concerns by gathering community feedback through engagement.
The plan includes potential timing of impacts, measures of any change to be experienced by the community, who may be affected by change, how changes will be measured and what actions will be taken, by whom and when in order to manage impacts.
To view the SIMP:
Download the SIMP.
A hard copy can also be requested by contacting the Project team on 1800 052 797.