Community

Our commitment

Origin respects the rights and interest of the communities in which we operate by working safely and being mindful of, and attentive to, the environmental and social impact of the resources, products and services we use or provide to others.

Employment

At the peak of construction of the BassGas Project around 300 people were employed at site.

Where possible, the BassGas Project team has also endeavoured to employ or contract local industry and suppliers. To date, more than 160 local firms have been contracted by the Project.

The recent mid-life enhancement project has again boosted employment at the BassGas Project. BassGas currently employs 85 people onsite.

Maintaining open dialogue

The BassGas community consultation process began in August 2001, when the Project was in its early stages of development. Initially the entire South Gippsland community was engaged in a range of communication activities designed to inform and educate key stakeholders about why the Joint Venture was investing in a project of this size and scale in Gippsland.

By October 2002, the BassGas Project had established a strong presence in the local community via: community consultation meetings held in local halls; public exhibitions at six locations; regular newsletters sent to all residents in the area, monthly advertorials providing project updates in local newspapers; provision of information and fact sheets to landowners; prompt replies to all written enquiries; a toll-free helpline; the Project website and visits to neighbours to discuss their issues/concerns.

Throughout all stages of development of the BassGas Project, the joint venture partners ensured that all construction was carried out in respect to the wishes of the local the Boon wurrung people. Representatives of the Boon wurrung worked as cultural heritage monitors and advisors to ensure that construction works did not disturb sacred indigenous objects, places or artefacts.

Working with local landowners

Origin works closely with the local people whose properties we require access to in order to carry out our work. This work is an important part of the planning of any project and starts long before construction takes place.

Around the BassGas Project, the team spent two years in one-on-one negotiations with around 100 local landowners to secure access to the land required to construct the underground pipelines and the Lang Lang Processing Plant.

To ensure that affected landowners were duly compensated and assisted through the project, support was offered in a range of ways including: free independent legal advice; independent land valuations; and the cost of to develop Farm Management Plans.

In addition, Origin is committed to listening to and learning from local landholders, making every effort to minimise disturbance to their property, lifestyle, animals and crops as a result of our activities. Through consultation with landowners around the BassGas Project, Origin altered the original pipeline route in order to minimise any impact on farming operations.

Investing in the community

In original community investment plans, the BassGas Project committed to investing more than $180,000 in a 10-year revegetation project. The Project has now gone far beyond these obligations, carrying out the rehabilitation of an area of land around 4.5 times the original area specified. Origin also continues to send its employees on Landcare tree-planting, weed removal and seed collection volunteering days.

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