Northparkes Mines

Communities

Northparkes is committed to developing strong and enduring relationships based on the values of respect, honesty, two-way dialogue and transparency. In focusing on capacity-building partnerships with organisations and businesses Northparkes remains focussed on ensuring economic benefits in our communities remain for the long-term.

Community engagement

Northparkes has developed strong relationships with our local communities since the mine commenced first development in 1993. These relationships have been built on trust and ensuring communication is delivered in a timely, clear and transparent manner. Approachability and being actively involved in our community is one of the keys to building these relationships, we encourage our staff to participate in all the local communities has to offer.

Northparkes have several approaches to formally engage, monitor, and report to our stakeholders on our operations:

The Northparkes Community Consultative Committee (CCC) was established in 2006. The Committee is an important and effective way of consulting with our local community. It provides an open forum for Northparkes and the local community to share information and provide feedback on existing and proposed activities. The Committee comprises seven community members and three Northparkes personnel.

Our current members are:

Chairperson: Scott Bickett, Parkes Shire Council

Members:

Northparkes is also committed to regular communication with its nearby farming neighbours. Neighbour meetings are typically held twice per year with our closest neighbours to provide a consultation and feedback mechanism in regards to mining and farming activities.

The Parkes Borefield Committee was established in 2008 under a Memorandum of Understanding to manage the sustainability of the borefield near the Lachlan River in Forbes where Northparkes extracts water from for the operation. This committee is made up of representatives from Northparkes Mines, Parkes Shire Council and the local landholders collectively named the Southern Cross Landowners. This committee meets quarterly and continues to work together for the future of this vital resource.

Community investment

Northparkes believes that to maintain a strong social licence to operate we must have a positive influence on the long term development of the communities that our operations may impact. Our community investment program focuses on three key areas including, value to our communities, value to Northparkes and long term sustainability.

It is essential that Northparkes plan for closure, irrelevant of our life of mine. Our focus is to establish partnerships in the Parkes and Forbes Shires to help build a strong regional economy and community that will endure beyond the life of the mine.

To complement our partnerships, a sponsorship and donations program focuses on community-based initiatives aimed at building community capacity.

Northparkes is currently focussing on the following key areas:

• Health;
• Education & Youth;
• Economic Development;
• Environment.
• Sport.
• Tourism.
• Community Events.

Northparkes provides financial and in-kind support for a range of local community-based projects through our sponsorship and donations program.

Applications are available through the link below.

Community Investment Program Application Form

To assist you with your application download the Community Investment Guidelines.

There are 4 application rounds throughout the year - February, May, August and November. Applications close for the particular round on the last working day of the month.

Cultural heritage

Northparkes works closely with the local Wiradjuri community to protect Aboriginal heritage across the site and minimise impacts from our activities.

We have implemented an Aboriginal Heritage Management Plan (AHMP) that provides the framework for the identification, assessment, monitoring and management of Aboriginal cultural heritage on site. The plan was prepared in consultation with the Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC), Peak Hill Local Aboriginal Lands Council (PHLALC) and Wiradjuri Council of Elders (WCE) representatives and approved by the Director-General in May 2008.

In accordance with the AHMP, an Aboriginal Heritage Working Group that consists of two representatives from PHLALC, WCE and Northparkes was established in 2008. The AHWG is a forum for consultation regarding our Aboriginal heritage management practices and identification of improvement opportunities.

For new works, Northparkes utilises a Site Disturbance Permit approval system to manage the protection of heritage sites on the mine lease. This approval process applies to activities being undertaken in previously undisturbed areas or previously rehabilitated areas. The area to be disturbed is compared against the Aboriginal cultural heritage sensitivity zones and determines the requirement for additional survey work, salvage of materials or no further requirements.

Monitoring includes:

• Checking the accuracy of information recorded on the land management system
• Inspection of protected aboriginal cultural heritage sites to ensure that they have not been damaged (prior to salvage)
• Audit of the site disturbance process and approvals to ensure that all appropriate archaeological assessments have occurred.

More Information

Parkes Shire Council

Forbes Shire Council