The Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) in partnership with Gold Sponsor BP Australia, held the annual Sustainable Development Conference SD09 – Sustaining Our Social Licence at the Adelaide Convention Centre, South Australia from 26 – 30 October 2009. 

This year’s Sustainable Development Conference, along with the Aboriginal Enterprises in Mining, Exploration and Energy (AEMEE) Conference, attracted over 330 delegates to Adelaide and showcased the South Australian minerals industry and its commitment to sustainable development to both national and international participants.  

SD09 demonstrated the depth of the industry’s commitment to an enduring social licence to operate highlighting excellent examples and case studies of engagement and practical solutions through what has been a financially challenging year.   An important “takeout message” from this year’s Conference was that partnerships continue to be a key focus in building trust and mutual benefits critical to ensuring mineral resources development generates societal value across generations.

The opening session, sponsored by Xstrata, was launched by the Hon Mike Rann MP, SA Premier, and featured leading authorities on sustainable development – John Elkington from global think-tank SustainAbility & Volans and John Strongman, former Mining Adviser to the World Bank.   Copies of their presentations and the recorded pod casts are available through the eSatchel.  

The Sustainable Development Conference introduced some new initiatives to continually improve the Sustainable Development Conference, including:

• the inaugural eSatchel;  
• working with Adelaide Convention Centre to provide food that had been locally produced;  
• the use of green energy throughout the Centre; and
• offsetting 8.1 tonnes of carbon emissions by planting 48 native trees and shrubs in SA through Carbon Neutral.

The Welcome Reception Sponsor GHD donated seedlings on behalf of each of the SD09 Welcome Reception attendees.   These seedlings will be planted locally in the Adelaide Region. 

Next year’s Sustainable Development Conference SD2010 will be held at the Mandurah Performing Arts Centre in Western Australia.  For more information visit www.sdconference2010.com.au or join the MCA events mailing list for all future updates.