Closure Social Impact Assessment

The Oaky Creek Coal (OCC) mine is approaching one of the most significant phases in its operational history: the closure of coal mining operations, with final longwall coal production currently scheduled for March 2030. 

When a mine stops producing coal, the work doesn’t necessarily end. A reduced workforce is still required to safely decommission infrastructure, rehabilitate the land, manage water and environmental impacts, maintain the site and monitor its recovery long after the last tonne of coal has been mined.

Inevitably, the mine, its workforce, the town, the broader community, and other stakeholders are entering a significant period of transition.

Finishing Strong and Responsibly
To help OCC plan for a responsible closure, it is required to undertake a detailed Closure Social Impact Assessment (CSIA). A CSIA is a structured process for understanding how closing the mine will affect the workforce, the people of the town, local businesses and services, and the surrounding community — and, importantly, identify what can be done to help mitigate or manage those impacts.

The CSIA will review the existing social, cultural, demographic and economic contexts; identify community and stakeholder issues, interests, concerns and expectations relating to the mine closure; assess the likely social impacts and opportunities arising from closure; identify strategies to mitigate adverse impacts and enhance positive outcomes; and develop practical monitoring and management frameworks and responses.

Importantly, the CSIA will provide detailed findings and recommendations that can inform closure planning and implementation, and help support transparent communication and informed dialogue with affected communities and stakeholders.

Running a CSIA
A CSIA is conducted by an independent, third-party consultant and includes a combination of research, data analysis, consultation and impact planning. CSIA’s typically comprise the following phases:

1. Social baseline and community profiling to identify who could be affected

2. Talking to the community to identify and understand key issues and interests

3. Evaluation to map and assess the likely impacts

4. Strategy development to develop mitigation strategies

5. Impact monitoring and management to determine whether the predicted impacts actually occurred and whether mitigation measures are working.

OCC is currently in the process of engaging a consultant to facilitate its CSIA, with the aim to commence work before the end of the year. 

The successful consultant will be expected to work collaboratively with OCC and GCAA personnel and engage appropriately with employees, contractors, suppliers, members of the community, government agencies, and other relevant stakeholders.

Have Your Say
Given the opportunity, OCC encourages you to participate in the CSIA process so you can share your views. Methods are likely to include a combination of one-on-one interviews, employee consultations, business consultations, community meetings, focus groups, workshops, and surveys.

During the CSIA process, the Local Voices Community Pulse Survey (run by existing external consultant, Voconiq) is also planned to be undertaken. 

As always, we’ll keep you updated on progress right here in Tieri News.