Local and Indigenous Communities
Who are they?
Most of our operations are located in rural and remote areas of the countries in which we operate; hence, we have a broad spectrum of local and indigenous community concerns of which we need to be mindful.
Interests and Concerns
The impact our business has on local communities varies considerably depending on the location, size and nature of the operation. For example, our offshore petroleum platforms have minimal direct impact on people, whereas the existence of larger land-based minerals operations can result in changes to economies, culture, population, employment opportunities, infrastructure, and noise and traffic levels. All of these have the potential to change people's lives in some way.
Results from stakeholder perception surveys rate local employment and business creation, support for social infrastructure and programs, a desire for improved community engagement mechanisms and improved environmental performance as the most important interests and concerns of communities.
Dialogue
Our strategy is to engage our communities in our business where possible and establish an open communication channel where all parties feel they have the right to participate in discussions.
Our HSEC Management Standard 7 requires all operations to have systems in place to identify and work with stakeholders and to develop strategies to address their concerns and expectations. Sites are also required to record, register and address any complaints or concerns lodged by stakeholders.
Each of our operations is required to have a community relations plan, a component of which must be a formal mechanism to engage with people in their local communities. Examples of engagement methods include community consultation and engagement groups, newsletters and targeted communications, including site-based and corporate HSEC reports.
In some instances, members of the community are invited to participate in HSEC audits of their local operations, such as at the Minerva Gasfield Development in Victoria, Australia.
We are continually trying to improve the processes we use to engage people to ensure that we are fully aware of their concerns and so that our communities understand the way we do business. One method our Tintaya operation is using to address its neighbours' concerns about possible environmental damage is to involve community members in our environmental monitoring. Through training, they are gaining a better understanding of the mining operation and our environmental procedures; and they are assisting us to ensure the mine maintains its environmental integrity (see 2004 BHP Billiton Employee HSEC Awards – Community).
Stakeholder perception surveys are tools that provide us with a valuable insight into how key stakeholders view us. The surveys provide a greater understanding about community priorities and concerns and a means to track performance against one of our Charter success measures – that 'communities in which we operate value our citizenship'.
As with society in general, we are sensitive to loss of culture and heritage and take great care in preserving traditional culture in areas around the world where we operate. An example of the type of project we undertake is the ongoing 'Pirmal' Project in Western Australia, a purpose-built place for the storage, management and protection of sacred Aboriginal cultural artefacts (see 2004 BHP Billiton Employee HSEC Awards – Community).
Further information on our approach and performance with regards to community relations can be viewed in our section on Community.
Download a summary of all BHP Billiton Stakeholder Relationships.
