THE CSIRO has launched an initiative aimed at equipping regional communities with the knowledge they need for future bilateral negotiations about land use with mining companies.
The organisation has joined forces with the National Indigenous Radio Service (NIRS) to offer information on how current and possible future exploration and mining technologies may or may not affect the land.
CSIRO’s Minerals Down Under Flagship Director Dr Peter says that once the first set of interviews with CSIRO scientists has been disseminated through the NIRS network and web site, the group will look for feedback from listeners to see what additional information they would like.
The long-term plan is for this one-way dialogue to be turned into a two-way conversation as community members respond to the interviews with questions and requests for more information through their local and NIRS blogs.
CSIRO identified the NIRS as an effective way to reach remote communities through about 160 Indigenous radio stations throughout Western Australia, the Northern Territory, Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria.
The NIRS Manager and News Director Matthew Leonard said the radio service is delighted to be involved with CSIRO in this project.
Leonard says the mining and resource industry is an important source of income and employment for many Indigenous communities.
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