A CHANGE of direction has paid dividends for the Upper Hunter Mining Dialogue’s (UHMD) annual forum, which took place at the Muswellbrook Race Club on Tuesday.
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Unlike previous years that focused primarily on talks, the 2018 concept also featured networking and information sessions between guests and those involved directly – and indirectly – in the local industry.
And, about 150 registered participants made the most of the occasion, which pleased UHMD chair David O’Brien.
“We’ve been hosting the forum since 2011, rotating between Muswellbrook and Singleton,” he said.
“We usually invite community members, government officials and the mining sector to get an update on what’s happening from the dialogue, as well as offer some input into where we’re going moving forward.
“But, this year’s event is based on ‘more engagement’ with an eye on local businesses.
“It’s important to see how we can work closer with them to provide further opportunities from the industry that’s here.
“We’re still focusing on other key areas like environment and community.
“However, today we’ve seen a big increase in our numbers – with many of them from local businesses who’ve met with procurement people from the mines.
“This adjustment [to our format] means a lot less presentations and more stalls, for example, so they can engage, have discussions, and find out what they need to.”
Mr O’Brien admitted one of the UHMD’s greatest successes was the ever-popular school mine tours program.
“More than 600 children have gone through this year,” he said.
“The initiative’s now been included in the curriculum for those schools, so it’s being developed with teachers as well.
“It’s all about a balanced view of the mines.
“It talks about what impacts they have, but it also offers the students a first-hand experience by having a look on the actual sites.
“It’s a terrific program – and will continue in 2019.
“Some of the UHMD’s other achievements include more transparency, along with the reporting of rehabilitation and water use.
“Information gets aggregated for the entire industry, so it makes it easier for people to go on the website and find out what’s going on.
“I guess that holds us to account for our performance.”
A number of challenges still remain, according to Mr O’Brien, such as managing air quality, noise from the operations and, of course, rehab.
“A lot of effort goes into that side of things,” he said.
“Most sites employ up to four people these days as environment specialists, which is a big improvement.”
