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Community liaison and consultation is vital to engaging the community on new developments, expansions of existing infrastructure and ongoing operations. By engaging communities during the project development process we are able to deliver and operate our projects while satisfying community concerns.
Because many of our projects are located in areas in, or close to, land which is owned or connected with indigenous Australians, we place a special emphasis on considering and managing the cultural heritage impacts of our actions.
Across our business we:
AGL is exploring for coal seam gas in petroleum permits which cover areas such as the Galilee Basin north of Longreach, in the Gloucester and Hunter Valley, and at Camden, in Sydney's fast growing south west urban growth area.
AGL operates the Camden, Gloucester, Hunter and Galilee Projects. We consult with landowners, neighbours, residents, local councils and relevant Government agencies as part of our operations.
An updated Environmental Management System for the Camden project documents our community consultation approach, and this approach is being implemented as the basis of our environmental management plans in other exploration and development projects.
The Camden, Gloucester and Hunter projects have active Community Consultation Committees (CCC), each chaired by an independent chairperson. All three CCCs include local council appointed representatives, local residents, local environment groups and AGL representatives. The CCCs provide a forum for community involvement, where members can ask questions and make suggestions which AGL considers and adopts where appropriate. The CCCs participate in consultation processes for proposed exploration and development activities and also oversee the environmental performance of those activities.
Dedicated sites within the AGL website provide project information including newsletters, minutes and other relevant documentation, such as Environmental Assessment reports.
AGL regularly distributes project newsletters and other communications to keep stakeholders informed and to invite feedback. All AGL communications, including project signage, clearly display a contact telephone number.
Where possible, AGL obtains materials and resources for exploration and development projects from businesses based in the local communities where we operate.
The Camden Gas Project is now wholly owned and operated by AGL and is located 50 km south west of Sydney. It has been producing gas for the Sydney market since 2001 and about 45% of our suppliers are from the local area. The Camden CCC met three times during 2008/09.
The project website www.agl.com.au/camdengasproject includes copies of environmental assessments, Annual Environmental Performance Reports and Independent Audits.
AGL has been operating the Gloucester Gas Project since December 2008, and the project holds 26% of certified coal seam gas reserves in New South Wales. The Gloucester Gas Project currently employs more than 15 people from the local area. The CCC has met on three occasions since AGL acquired its interests. The Gloucester Project website is www.agl.com.au/gloucestergasproject.
The Hunter Gas Project has been wholly owned and operated by AGL since April 2009. Exploration for coal seam gas under Petroleum Exploration Licences 4 and 267 covers much of the Hunter Valley, an area from the outskirts of Newcastle in the south through to Scone and Merriwa in the north.
Current exploration activities are primarily focussed on the Bulga area within the Hunter Valley and the Bulga CCC met three times between April and June 2009.
AGL acquired an interest in the remote natural gas exploration permit ATP529 in the Galilee Basin, Queensland in July 2008. During the period, AGL drilled five exploration test wells in Glenaras, which were sited in consultation with the landowner and located in mutually agreed areas.
AGL completed the construction and commissioning of the 112 km Berwyndale to Wallumbilla pipeline and the Wallumibilla Compressor Station in April 2009. The pipeline was formally opened on 11 May 2009 by government Ministers from South Australia and Queensland.
The Mandandaanji people started the official opening ceremony at Wallumbilla with a Welcome to Country. Joyce McCarthy and Florence Carlo, senior Mandandanji elders, presented AGL with an artwork to commemorate the relationship and the success of the project.
AGL has a number of electricity generation construction projects at various stages of development. Our approach to community consultation for each project is based on the needs of the community and the nature of the project.
AGL is currently constructing the Hallett 2 Wind Farm and, together with the existing Hallett 1 Wind Farm and four other wind farms in development around Hallett, has a significant presence in the local community.
AGL opened the AGL Information Centre in nearby Burra on 15 January 2009. The AGL Information Centre strengthens our presence in the community and provides an environment where the community can obtain answers to questions about the wind farms at Hallett. All matters raised by the community are tracked using an issues register to enable all concerns to be managed and addressed.
The key issues raised by the community during 2008/09 include the following:
AGL has established the AGL Hallett Wind Farm Community Fund. Through the Community Fund, AGL aims provide annual grants to local community based projects and groups for the next 25 years.
AGL will provide $15,000 for each wind farm (following development approval) each year for the next 25 years, indexed at CPI.
The AGL Hallett Wind Farm Community Fund for 2008 (calendar year) totalled $30,800 and was donated to a range of community projects, including shading for a community pool, first aid training for school students and repairs to the Hallett community hall.
AGL sponsored, and participated in, the AGL Bush to Burra cattle drive during October 2008. This annual five day event raises money for health services and hospitals in the mid-north region of South Australia.
At 30 June 2009, the Bogong hydro development project was nearing completion. A comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was prepared, involving extensive consultation with all interested stakeholders. The development of the project concept, and its environmental assessment, was guided by a set of sustainability goals and objectives. Investigations undertaken as part of the EIA included noise and vibration, socioeconomics and tourism, landscape and visual character, cultural heritage values and planning considerations.
AGL has been proud to support community events in the Bogong alpine region, including the Audax Alpine Classic cycle event in January 2009 and the Kangaroo Hoppet ski event in August 2008.
Since the end of the financial year, AGL has received planning approval for development of an open-cycle gas fired peaking power station at Leafs Gully in the south-west of Sydney. AGL has been developing this project for several years and has undertaken significant community consultation.
Since the project was initiated, AGL has engaged with the community using a number of platforms through the development approval process. These include:
Importantly, through these community consultations, it became clear that a number of issues already being considered by AGL were also very important to the community, including how potential environmental, health and economic consequences of the project would be addressed.
AGL commissioned expert reports to understand and minimise localised impacts. Findings were communicated to local households and businesses. For example, AGL has agreed to establish a 170 hectare nature reserve along the banks of the Nepean River, and to rehabilitate and permanently protect 60% of the Leafs Gully site to form a crucial wildlife corridor linking the reserve to the nearby Campbelltown koala colony.
AGL also outlined to the community the findings of research undertaken by the CSIRO that indicated that the proposed power station would have no discernible impact on air quality.
Due to the remoteness of the power station within the site, AGL is confident that residents will not will not see or hear the power station when completed.
Although the power station has received planning approval, AGL will continue to consult with the community to help local residents and businesses understand the exact nature of the proposal.
