Unidel’s relationship-based approach and integrated service delivery model can help pave the way for successful development by satisfying these legislative requirements, and capturing and integrating outcomes of early stakeholder engagement into early design.

Setting aside the emerging debate around compensation models, the Queensland Land Access Code, released in November 2010, confirmed that compensation was not the quintessential element to negotiating access to land for the purposes of development.

As specialist consultants in the energy and infrastructure sectors, Unidel’s experience working across the project lifecycle in the gas, water and resources sectors has given the company a reputation for developing a relationship-based approach that supports the Code’s principles of communication, transparency and equity.

Understanding expectations

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With experience gained during the development of Queensland’s water grid and CSG projects, Unidel’s team of 250 energy and infrastructure specialists work with clients to develop delivery strategies and do what’s needed on the ground to help deliver major pipeline, infrastructure and resource projects through to completion.

In particular, Unidel’s team maintains a strong understanding of landholder expectations regarding land access contracts and access arrangements, and an appreciation for the social impact management expectations of regulators and other stakeholders.

“The expectations of communities and project stakeholders are increasingly being set with a view to achieving social outcomes,” says Unidel Chief Executive Officer Chris Brooks.

“That’s why we have recently bolstered our traditional land access service offering with a more strategic approach that is founded in the principle of successfully developing and managing a project’s ever-important ‘social licence to operate’. ”

The social movement

Under Queensland Government policy, proponents of new or expanded major resource developments are increasingly required to develop social impact management plans in consultation with government and project stakeholders.

Increasing discussions about the ‘social licence to operate’ reflect the democratisation of power which accompanied the growth of the internet and have resulted in the mobilisation of ‘communities of interest’ with the ability to influence mainstream news and opinion, as well as government regulation and policy.

“A project’s social licence to operate has almost invoked the same momentum that health, safety and environment did within the industry a decade ago,” says Mr Brooks.

“As that movement led to a massive focus on safety standards, this movement is leading to tremendous scrutiny on how projects interact with project stakeholders.

“We work with proponents on ways to deliver and secure their social licence, and satisfy the legislative requirements through a range of strategies including the development of local industry and indigenous participation plans,” says Mr Brooks.

“Contractually, pipeline proponents may increasingly have more responsibility in this area, especially around meeting employment and training targets and bringing local suppliers to the standards required to participate commercially in projects.”

Social impact transparency

Proponents are also sharing location intelligence and developing bespoke spatial data solutions in an effort to be open and transparent with their project stakeholders and to truly integrate social impacts with the design process.

“By capturing all social impact data early in the planning phase, proponents are helping to ensure the design process isn’t done in isolation but with a sound appreciation of the social and environmental constraints, and thereby minimising ongoing design revisions,” says Mr Brooks.

“Unidel has a significant strength in this area as we integrate in-field data collection from cultural, environmental and cadastral surveys, and information from landholders, local authorities and interest groups with modern spatial capture techniques to provide digital terrain models and 3D designs and maps.

“Location intelligence helps to optimise infrastructure sites and corridors in a socially acceptable manner.”