Complaints

Rio Tinto Coal Australia provides a process for the local community to discuss any issues relating to our mining operations. Complaints are categorised into blasting, dust, light, noise, low frequency noise, odour and other.

In 2007, Rio Tinto Coal Australia Queensland operations received five complaints, three which related to odour at Blair Athol Mine.

During 2007 community complaints made to Coal & Allied decreased from 111 in 2006 to 82. Complaints relating to blasting dropped from 44 in 2006 to 20 in 2007.  This was due to ongoing consultation with near neighbours regarding the timing of blasts.  As in 2006, the majority of complaints were in relation to dust, due partly to the ongoing drought conditions in the first half of 2007.

Historically our Queensland operations have received substantially fewer community complaints than our Coal & Allied operations in New South Wales.  This may be due to our Coal & Allied sites operating in closer proximity to more densely populated areas.