A matter of trust

Abstract

Siting new mines and working collaboratively with the local communities near existing mines is essential to the success of mineral resource projects. Without public support, from the local to the national level, new mines can be blocked, or existing mines can fail to achieve their full potential. The siting of nuclear waste disposal facilities has numerous relevant lessons for mine siting and development. This essay examines how these lessons can apply to mining, describing the complex social relations that must be managed amongst different levels of government, public interest groups, Indigenous communities, members of the public, academia and industry.