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Community Involvement

CASE STUDY 1

The Extractive Industries recognize their responsibilities as neighbors in the community. One of many case studies covers the makeover from derelict quarry to wooded nature haven. Tarmac Southern achieved this in partnership with Thames Chase, an organization whose mission is to renew the local landscape by creating a community forest.

By the end of quarrying in the late 1970s little restoration had taken place save that achieved by natural regeneration. This virtually derelict site was inherited by Tarmac in the 1980s and plans were submitted for restoration, which included importation of inert material as fill.

Since then a total of 12,000 trees and shrubs have been planted to create the community woodland. Existing reed beds have been enhanced and a pond created with a safe dipping platform that has delighted children.

Some 2,000m of surfaced pathways, a bridleway and car park have been built and a large area of open grassland established.

The attractions to nature have been enhanced through advice from English Nature and the London Borough of Havering and Berwick Woods now has London's largest area of wet woodland.

But perhaps the greatest success of the project is the level of community involvement and enjoyment it has achieved.

The site lies between Rainham and Hornchurch, two communities divided by the River Ingrebourne. By providing two new bridges the Berwick Woods Project has given greater access and brought the communities closer together.

Local people were consulted at the outset and set up a 'friends' group in 1998 to act as caretakers and stakeholders in the future of the site. Subsequent initiatives have included a series of practical action days and community tree planting.

There has also been a strong emphasis on arts both in terms of seating and signage, and many community events. A 'poet in residence' has worked with five Rainham schools to produce some vivid poetical acclaim for the site and a team of artists ran workshops with over 100 pupils in two schools, evolving a performance of dance, music, and songs.

Few would believe that a derelict quarry could do so much to bring joy to an entire community.

CASE STUDY 2

A second community involvement case study relates to the 6 lakes, which are located to the south of Duisburg and encompass an area of around 300 hectares. They provide the local population and the west Ruhr area with an important recreational area and in their current form are essentially the result of sand and gravel excavation, which took place since 1912.

Hulskens GmbH & Co KG, a leading member of the German Sand and Gravel Federal Association, undertook sand and gravel extraction in Grossenbaum in summer 1991. During the excavation of these deposits the objective was to create 6 lakes spanning 300 hectares. The fifth lake would be available for leisure activities, whilst the recultivation of the sixth lake was from the very beginning conceived as an ecological initiative.

The area of the 6 lakes was, from the beginning of the excavation, structured within one overarching plan and planted throughout with pine trees. The recultivation objective was therefore the remodeling of the land area into an enriched landscaped and planned zone. The landscaping work undertaken was to provide a basis for the presentation of a naturally linked further development.

The total shore lines of the six lakes were subdivided into different conservation zones- steeply cut banks with wind protected spots and a flat banked shoreline developed in a irregularly shaped form. As a result, flat and wetlands were created, which periodically flooded. The stream flow into the lake resulted in the creation of a coarse gravel and fine sand delta.

The resulting islands and hinterland ditches supplement the different bank structures and create a long and uneven shoreline. In turn, other areas enclose small lakes with self-sustaining water management areas. In several areas piles of stones and heaps of dead wood were erected. Any accumulated roots from the remains of trees found were used as natural building materials in the excavation area. A bush fence was created as a crossover zone to enclose the surrounding existing wood.

These efforts have provided a wealth of new self-seeded biotopes offering refuge to rare and / or threatened animal and plant species. The banks of the completed 6 lakes now form valuable living areas for amphibians, lizards, insects, as well as for birds and mammals.

Threatened bird species such as the Green Woodpecker and the Kingfisher, together with many other species, have firmly settled there and have colonized this restored nature area.

The example of the 6 lakes area near Duisburg demonstrates that modern extraction of raw materials can take place alongside the requirements of environmental protection and landscape ecology as well as meeting the needs of the local community for recreation in a natural environment.

CASE STUDY 3
CAVA NORD S.P.A. ITALIA
LAGO NORD PARK, PADERNO DUGNANO

Cava Nord S.p.A. was created in 1962 with the extraction of pyrite and sand in the commune of Paderno Dugnano, approximately 12 kilometers north of Milan. In compliance with regional regulations dating back to 1975, the company developed a project that provided for the transformation of the areas in the park that were no longer actively quarried. This concept, that is to say the creation of a park with an adjacent pond, took shape as a result of the intention to avoid the originally planned use of the quarry as a refuse dump site.

After several years of preparations in which in addition to Cava Nord, the regional administration, geologists, hydrologists and the architect Maurice Cerasini were also involved, an agreement was signed in 1982 that regulated the following matters: the extraction of pyrite and sand, partial filling of the quarry according to project, the renewal of green areas and lastly the preparation of structures for public use. All the required steps have been summarized in a general scheme whose execution, which would have been implemented by Cava Nord in a responsible way in accordance with the commune and the regional authorities; this scheme provided for three items: extraction activities, filling according to project, and environmental renewal.

The architect's entire program was subdivided into biannual phases. Work was started in 1984 in the northern area of the territory where extraction activities had stopped for a long time. Here the planned pond was created for recreational fishing along with the required infrastructure. More specifically, it included a waterfall, a dyke against flooding and a restaurant with a panoramic courtyard.

For the necessary planning works, such as the leveling of the escarpments and the construction of an access to the pond, material available on site was mainly used.

This base was then covered with a layer of turf, grass seeds were sown and finally trees were planted.

Cava Nord has borne the total cost for these procedures. In the autumn of 1986, this first phase was completed and the area was handed over to the commune.

Immediately afterwards works for the second renewal phase were begun. Contrary to the first work phase, in this case, ground material from the quarry's active area had to be used for shaping the land.

The upper layer of the rejected material was primarily used, which, separated on site from the pyrite and sand and placed in the dump, was intended for the creation of the park as well as for the construction of a protective embankment between the park and the quarry.

The architect's details included:

• Creation of main entrances to the north and south of the park, with connections to the various existing networks
• Construction of a car park with the planting of selected trees
• Creation of a second pond for water sports enthusiasts with a jetty for boats
• Creation of a vast grass area, named “Prato del Resegone” with an extension included between the main entrance of the Calderara division and an open-air theatre erected on the site
• Creation of a gym for rock climbers, members of the local sports association.
• Creation of paths with benches and other equipment
• Lastly, the construction of a play park for children. In this case too, Cava Nord has borne the cost for the material required for the works

Today the Lago Cava Nord Park, which extends over more than 25 hectares, is near completion and has already been developed into an attraction for the population in a wide radius. The open-air theatre has already proven itself. Here, to mention a few examples, the popular singer Anna Oxa performed in the “Agosto Padernense” program and symphony concerts have been staged.

The boy scouts of Cesano Maderno have chosen the park as their headquarters and, in agreement with the municipal administration of Paderno Dugnano, contribute to the care of the park. Older citizens and children especially use the facilities all year long.

On Sundays and holidays the park becomes a meeting place for many people from the entire region, with its high population density, even from the city of Milan, which does not have such vast facilities.

Last but not least, many animals have already picked the park and the pond as their new residence.

CASE STUDY 4

Wherever Rio Tinto operates, good relations with its neighbours are fundamental to long term success. Recognising that each local community is different, the policy of Rio Tinto is that every operation shall strive to understand and interact constructively with its local communities, and to assist their development in ways which apply the following principles:

• Mutual respect
• Active partnership
• Long term commitment

Mutual respect is essential to lasting, beneficial, interactive relationships between the Group's operations and local communities. This requires continuing and effective two-way communications and realistic expectations on both sides.

Active partnership defines the way the Group works with local communities, as well as with regional and national governments and other affected parties, by seeking mutual commitment and reciprocity based on trust and openness to reach agreed objectives and shared involvement.

Long term commitment to communities is sought, so that social and economic well-being is safeguarded and where possible enhanced during a mine's life and beyond.

Recognising that environmental issues are generally local effects, have an important impact on community perceptions, and are best dealt with in association with the people most impacted, the communities policy will be pursued in parallel with the Group's health, safety and environmental policy.

POLICIES

• Human Rights
  • The Rio Tinto Group seeks ever greater understanding of human rights issues, and of their consequences for its operations through dialogue with representative bodies, with international and non-governmental organisations, and with others in the business community. Its aim is a practical common effort to promote respect for human rights.
  • The Group's policy is based on the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and respect for provisions enshrined in the law of those countries where the Group operates. Respect for human rights forms the basis of community policies.
  • Rio Tinto supports and protects the dignity, well-being and rights of those with whom it is directly involved - namely its employees and their families and people in neighbouring communities.
• Relating to the Wider World
  To ensure transparency and accountability in corporate governance, Rio Tinto:
  • Commits itself both in principle and practice to the maximum level of transparency consistent with normal commercial confidentiality;
  • Aims to conduct its affairs in a properly accountable manner, reflecting the interests not only of shareholders, but also of others who may be affected by its activities;
  • Forbids the direct or indirect offer, payment, soliciting or acceptance of bribes;
  • Encourages Group operations to introduce their own codes of business practice in order to maintain honesty, integrity and fairness in their business transactions;
  • Accepts that Group operations should represent their views to government and to other third parties on matters which affect their business interests, but shall not participate in party politics or make payments to political parties;
  • Urges that honesty, integrity and fairness are essential to the way in which the Group conducts its business.
    

introduction | codes of conduct | social audits | socially responsible investment | health & safety | managing environmental impacts | community involvement | environmental auditing | voluntary agreements | reporting