The Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DEMIRS) is empowering the community to take a more active approach to addressing environmental concerns on resource projects.
The department has implemented improvements to assist members of the public report potential non-compliance related to mining activities around their communities.
Community members can visit the new Environmental Compliance Public Reporting page on the website to submit their concern and find guidance material on the information the department requires to be able to investigate.
The next phase of this initiative will see the department engage with community around the process and seek feedback to continue improving the guidance material.
While this is an initiative aimed at the entire WA community, there will be a particular focus on Aboriginal communities, especially in remote regions. The project is led by Environmental Compliance Engagement Officer, Trent Ward-Vigona, who joined the department's Resource and Environmental Compliance (REC) Division this year as part of the Aboriginal Employment Program. To help facilitate engagement with these communities, Trent will work closely with the Aboriginal Empowerment Unit.
REC's Executive Director Tyler Sudjovic said the new initiative is one of many ways the department is strengthening its overall approach to environmental regulation.
"The department uses a variety of tools to monitor non-compliance, such as routine and desktop inspections, drones, satellite imagery and industry self-reporting," Mr Sudjovic said.
"We recognised community reporting was an area we could implement some key improvements," he continued.
"Not only do we now have the reporting process in place, but we have also enhanced the internal capability to review and investigate all the reports we receive, so we encourage community members who have any concerns to raise them."
