research project findings participatory needs and opportunities assessment (pnoa) diagnostic tool

Just Transitionstransitioning toward a mining free future

Kirsty-Lee Workman ● Allyson Starky ● Clair Reidy ● Jeni McCormick

Background

• Research project findings

• Participatory Needs and Opportunities

Assessment (PNOA)

• Diagnostic tool

Client: Just TransitionsPNOA Rationale

• Identify perceptions of key stakeholders

• Potential barriers and opportunities to Just Transition

• Economy: locally supported, self-sufficient, diverse, sustainable, inclusive, equitable for the entire community

Stakeholder Breakdown Engagement Groups

• Government

• Agriculture

• Tourism/Business

• Local Community

• Social/Environmental Community Organisations

• Union & media were deemed to be outside the scope of this assessment.

Methodologies

• Stakeholder letter — initial contact

• Stakeholder interviews — structured and semi-structured interview via email, phone, and in-person

• Community engagement: Alpaca farm visit — informal conversation and locals response sheet

Key Stakeholder Questions

• What are the main economic perceptions?

• What are the barriers and/or opportunities to an economic transition?

• What economic alternatives can be identified to support a just transition?

Senior Advisor to Hon. Ian Macfarlane

Federal Member for Groom

• Mining is benefitting Oakey

• Hard to see Oakey diversifying

• Locals are happy to live and work with the mines

StakeholderGovernment

Barriers

• Not much prospect for tourism

• Can’t see agriculture changing up or down

• “Can’t imagine” what Oakey would diversify into

• No interest in transition from federal government


Opportunities

• Strong economic base to transform from… if mining declines

• Meat works and army base

• Government has identified coal seam gas as an alternative to coal mining (next 30–40 years)


StakeholderAgricultural Industry

Queensland Farmers’ Federation

• Land around Oakey agriculturally productive

• Only a small overall percentage of land in the area impacted

Barriers

• Land areas that formed part of the mine site will be regenerated

• Soil is unlikely to be suitable for cropping • Extended time required to establish post-mining economy


Opportunities

• Development of agricultural networks and infrastructure

• Lightweight perishable crops distributed via Wellcamp airport

• Soil will be suitable for grazing


Opportunities

• Alternative use of infrastructure to power new manufacturing industries

• Development of alternative energy generation

• Development of poultry industry

• Expansion of rural tourism


StakeholderTourism Industry

Queensland Tourism Industry Council

• Out of 25 ‘future waves of growth’ tourism has been highlighted as one of the ‘Fantastic Five’ areas to watch over the next 20 years

• Mining is #24 (Deloitte Australia)


Barriers

• FIFO nature of mining increasing leisure tourism costs

• Operators forced to entice back workers lost to the mining industry

• Significant difference in government investment in tourism compared to investment in mining


Opportunities • Local eco-tourism

• On-farm visits

• B&B establishments

• Regional food & beverage enterprises and festivals


Opportunities• Supports sustainability of the region’s natural resources and

promotes unique cultural assets

• Represents possible employment of Indigenous Australians, particularly in regional areas

StakeholderLocal Community

Community Engagement

Field Visit to Double H Alpaca Farm

• Respondents visitors to Open Day

• Most respondents 40+, lived in/near Oakey region, backgrounds in agriculture

Alpaca babies at Double H Alpacas farm, Yalangur

Age Town Occupation

Unique Mining Transition Barriers Opportunities

40-60 Yalangur Alpaca Farmer / Grazer

Handy to everywhere.

AGAINST — does not support further mining in the area.

OPEN — open to a discussion about transition and believes it should not be an issue.

NEUTRAL —doesn’t identify barriers to a transition and believes community would be better off. Land owners were originally pushed off and businesses forced to close.

Took a lot of jobs away that could be reinstated — feedlots, piggeries. Original amount of workers equivalent to current — should look at the jobs lost as well.

60+ Rose Nest Retired / Feedlots

Quiet area. CONFLICTED — some mines are essential but not when they cause so many adverse effects.

OPEN NONE — the people who were pushed out of the area were never dependent on mining before.

Agriculture.

40+ Highfields Carer Natural beauty of area be looked after.

AGAINST — area doens’t need mining, it needs farming. Acland destroyed by mining. Is about money.

OPEN NONE — land needs to be reverted to farming and agriculture.

Farming and agriculture. Renewables: wind turbines and solar. No need for coal.

60+ Yalangur Retired farmer Good rain in area. All land is good land.

AGAINST — not totally against mining but belives it should be more heavily controlled and stick to its own area.

OPEN LAND RUIN — the mining hasn’t ruined a lot of the land for other purposes. People need water especially.

Support to get small business going again. Government needs to look after the people of the area (Anzac War Memorial — fighting to keep it).

50+ Highfields Retired / ex-Defence

Quiet area and friendly lifestyle.

AGAINST — against further mining in the area because it is taking farming land and you can’t eat coal.

OPEN POLITICAL — area was self-sustaining before mining but not now. The real issue is government wanting more money.

Farming. Going back to crops and agriculture. Small businesses to supply the farmers will provide employment.

60+ Yalangur Farmer Beautiful country. Closely settled.

AGAINST OPEN WATER — loss of useable water in the region. All the people of the area have moved on.

Renewables — solar and wind.


• Respondents identified as being against continued mining in the Oakey region

• A small number conceded that mining was necessary in general

• All were in favour of discussing the possibility of economic transition


Barriers to transition…

• Impact of mining on reliable water supply

• Government support needed to re-establish small business and support community resources

• Lack of government support for any kind of economic transition process


Opportunities

• Return to agriculture and related industries, eg. piggeries and feedlots

• Small business opportunities connected to agriculture, eg. rural supply

• Establishment of alternative energy generation

• On-farm tourism

StakeholderKey Environmental Organisation

Aileen Harrison, vice president & spokesperson Oakey Coal Action Alliance

Barriers

• Lack of government support

• Lack of local support

• Loss of agricultural jobs/infrastructure


Barriers• Perception that mining is good/needed

• Position of power held by the mine — financial contributions to community projects & governments

• Ongoing air and water pollution; inadequate land regeneration


Opportunities

• Sustainable high-value agriculture

• Regional and eco-tourism projects

• Small business expansion

• New retail and residential opportunities

• Renewable energy: solar and wind farms

Moving ForwardSummary of PNOA Findings

• Barriers and opportunities to economic transition

• Research a basis from which to build support for communities through economic transition & diversification

• Support exists for both transition and diversification for regional economies

• Need to address the perception of mining dependence

OPPORTUNITIES

• Return to agriculture and related industries, eg. cropping, piggeries, and feedlots

• Possibility of expansion of meat works and army base

• Development of poultry industry

• Lightweight perishable crops distributed from Wellcamp airport

• Small business opportunities connected to agriculture, eg. rural supply

• New retail and residential opportunities

OPPORTUNITIES

• Alternative use of existing infrastructure to power new manufacturing industries

• Tourism that supports sustainability of the region’s natural resources and promotes cultural assets: eco-tourism, on-farm visits, bed & breakfast, food & beverage, regional cuisine-based enterprises & festivals

• Establishment of alternative, renewable energy generation: wind & solar farms

• Government suggestion: coal seam gas development for the next 30–40 years

• Facilitation of ongoing community engagement with relevant state & local government representatives

• Support for widespread promotion of viable economic development opportunities for the region — especially in regards to job creation & re-skilling/up-skilling of locals

• Encourage input from community & identified stakeholders to a locally-based action plan

RECOMMENDATIONS

• Community consultation to develop communications strategies for identified stakeholders

• Facilitate engagement activities with youth sectors of the Oakey region in relation to training and up-skilling for new/alternative industries

• Need for community engagement campaigns in relation to reality of long-term effects of mining

RECOMMENDATIONS

research project findings participatory needs and opportunities assessment (pnoa) diagnostic tool

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