Perceptions of Mining

Development and the Assessment

of Community Preparedness

Jim Cavaye

Impacts

rapid pace of development

the lack of familiarity

large scale of developments

What perceptions do people have of

likely changes?

What do people see as the most

important elements they need to

prepare for?

How can communities best prepare?

Key Results

Did not believe it would happen

Not informed

Expecting major change (+ve and –ve)

Not prepared

Organisation, Learning from others,

Leadership, Information

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

% of

Respondents

-10 -8 -6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 8 10

Perception of harmful or beneficial

Harmful or Beneficial?

Perceptions of Positive Change

Increased population

Increased employment

Improved community services

Increased business activity

Better infrastructure

Increased income

Perceptions of Negative Change

Housing shortage and cost

Increased cost of living

Impacts on underground water

Wear on infrastructure

Less safe

Less community cohesion

Changes to identity and “spirit”

Services being overstretched

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

Score

Mak

eup

Soc

ial s

ituatio

n

Func

tion

Eco

nom

yIn

fras

truc

ture

Env

ironm

ent

Ser

vice

s

Hou

sing

Extent of Likely Changes

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

Score

Harmful or

beneficial

Informed Preparation Ease of

preparation

Information

Media

Word of Mouth

Experiences of other communities

Some local government information

What is Needed to Prepare

Overcoming the “disbelief paradox”

Project approval works against

community preparedness

Information

Organisation

Leadership

Local government

Implications

Housing Community dynamics

Difference between FIFO & “less FIFO”

“Cargo cult” community & government

Overwhelming local government

Pre-requisites in development pathways

Implications

SIMP and other procedures don’t cope

Preparation pre-FID

Changing SIMPs – Local use of services

Capacity Building - Being tender-ready