Dendrobium is being developed by BHP Billiton as a 5.2 Mtpa mine near Wollongong in NSW. Its proximity to the residential area of Mt Kembla has brought the project under very close public scrutiny.

One result of BHP Billiton’s willingness to engage extensively with the community is the development of a “Community Enhancement Program”, launched two weeks ago.

BHP Billiton will pay $350,000 into a community fund, and once longwall operations get underway it will levy three cents from every saleable tonne for the community enhancement program. A 5m wide corridor will also be established around the mine site for the establishment of a ‘Mt Kembla Mine Memorial Pathway’

A meeting of Wollongong City Council last week formally agreed to the Community Enhancement Program, and approved the establishment of a Trust Fund and management structure.

Councillor Darling said the program will provide funding to help balance out any social and other impacts from the establishment of the Dendrobium mine.

“It’s a unique arrangement that will see residents, the company and Council working in partnership to ensure a ‘win-win’ situation from the project. In recent years we have seen many instances where developers and community groups have been pitted against each other, with Council in the difficult position of having to rule on sensitive development applications,” Cr Darling said.

“Here we have a situation where the three parties have joined forces to come up with some benefits that will help to ameliorate the impacts of the mine and its construction. I applaud everyone involved in the negotiations for this project.”

Darryl Cuzzubbo, director of the Dendrobium project, said the company was pleased to be able to work with the community and Council to come up with a Community Enhancement Program that sets a benchmark for new projects.

“Community benefits, coupled with the economic benefits of the project to the Illawarra, underline the importance of a shared vision for the future by all stakeholders,” he said.