Capability:
Stakeholder engagement strategy and process

Ok Tedi Mine – Health and Ecological Risk Assessment

Ok Tedi Mining Ltd (OTML) had completed a 25-volume risk assessment that told a story of widespread environmental damage to one of Papua New Guinea's largest river systems.

The damage would be worse than previously told to the public by the company's majority shareholder, BHP. The challenge was to effectively and comprehensively release the results of the risk assessment into a highly sensitised and critical public arena.

The information needed to be released in a way that respected the people whose environment and lives would be changed by the increased damage, and who also had a stake in the future of the mine. If poorly executed, it had the potential to cause civil unrest and threaten the mining operations and the safety of the company's employees.

We delivered a tightly controlled and highly strategic release to diverse and sometimes aggressive stakeholders in PNG, Australia and the US.

Direct engagement of critical stakeholders through one-on-one meetings and diverse group information sessions allowed informed discussion and a much deeper understanding of the complexity of the issues surrounding the project. At the same time, information was provided to the affected communities and feedback taken on their preferred response.

As a result of the engagement process, there was no civil unrest and the company's two listed shareholders contained potentially damaging media coverage.

Improved relationships with key environmental and humanitarian stakeholders paved the way for the major shareholder's ultimate exit, and ongoing operation of the mine under a new shareholder arrangement.

It also laid the foundations for the subsequent Informed Consensus process in which the communities negotiated with OTML a major review of their compensation agreements, and shift towards a more self-determined future.

Melbourne Water – Upgrade of the Eastern Treatment Plant

Melbourne Water was seeking an EPA Victoria works approval to upgrade the treatment process at one of Melbourne’s two major sewerage treatment plants. OfforSharp designed and facilitated an engagement process to secure stakeholder input to the works approval application. The works approval was given by the EPA which commended the quality of the process. The overall communication and engagement program was also awarded an Excellence Award in the 2002 International Association for Business Communication Gold Quill Awards.

Melbourne Water – Devilbend Reservoir, Future Use Strategy and Masterplan

Melbourne Water had announced its intention to dispose of 1,100 ha of land, including a large reservoir, on the Mornington Peninsula. OfforSharp was contracted to design and facilitate a community consultation and communications program to effectively engage all relevant stakeholders. Main activities included: developing a consultation strategy; managing the selection process for a community reference group and facilitating 13 meetings; organising and facilitating community information sessions and a community workshop; preparing public information/reports, updates, media releases; and developing and maintaining a contact database.

Yarra Valley Water – Pressure Upgrade Project

Yarra Valley Water’s distribution system has significantly higher average pressure than the rest of Melbourne and this leads to greater losses of water through leaks and bursts, as well as shortening the life of some water infrastructure.

OfforSharp was engaged to develop a communications strategy and implementation plan for a pressure management project to progressively reduce average system pressure across all 24 of Yarra Valley Water’s pressure management areas. The project was implemented with minimal public issues and is considered a flagship project for the water company.

BassLink Development Board – Basslink Project

BassLink is a 400kV DC interconnector between the Australian mainland and Tasmanian electricity grids. OfforSharp was engaged by Basslink Development Board – a Tasmanian government entity – to provide community relations advice and develop a stakeholder engagement framework for prospective bidders for the project.

Edison Mission Energy – Bo Nok Power Station proposal, Thailand

The Bo Nok Power Station is a controversial USD820 million coal-fired power plant on the Gulf of Thailand. In light of the significant community protests over the proposal, OfforSharp was brought in by joint proponent, Edison Mission, to review the community relations aspects of the project.

Victorian Government – Water Smart Gardens and Home Rebates Scheme

OfforSharp provided stakeholder engagement strategy, research and communication support for the launch of Phase Two of the Water Smart Gardens and Home Rebates Scheme. The scheme aimed to motivate Victorians to purchase water-efficient household products. Our role included commissioning quantitative market research into expected levels of uptake for different pricing scenarios, which allowed the rebates scheme to be accurately targeted and appropriately funded.