Harnessing The Strength of Engagement

Robert Kaftan

Harnessing The Strength of Engagement

Kleinfelder was engaged by the Australian Government to undertake investigations, assess risks, and propose remediation options for non-radiological waste materials remaining on Maralinga Tjarutja lands as part of the Maralinga Site Maintenance Project. Agreeing at the outset that a collaborative approach to engagement on all aspects of the project and a deliberate endeavour to empower the Traditional Owners in making decisions about investigations and planned remediation activities on their lands was imperative to the project’s success.

Kleinfelder undertook an iterative and risk-based approach to investigation of the buried and surface waste materials on Maralinga Tjarutja lands. The remediation options assessment undertaken subsequently by Kleinfelder followed procedures set out in Australian Standard AS ISO 18504:2022 Soil Quality – Sustainable Remediation and was also heavily driven by Traditional Owners requirements and preferences.

Noting the history

In the 1950’s-60’s, nine atomic weapons were detonated at Maralinga and Emu Field, an area in the north-western corner of South Australia. Such testing and hundreds of additional smaller experiments involving radioactive materials, resulted in the displacement of Maralinga’s Traditional Owners.

Following the completion of the Maralinga Rehabilitation Project between 1995 and 2000, which was focused on radiological materials, and a subsequent period of monitoring, the test sites were handed back to the Traditional Owners in 2009. However, following the return of the lands, Maralinga Tjarutja raised concerns about risks associated with the non-radiological waste materials contained within over 200 uncontrolled waste areas remaining on their Traditional Lands. Investigations conducted in 2019 concluded that further investigation and remediation activities (for non-radiological waste materials) were required.

Collaborative Approaches

Assessment of methods used in ongoing engagement showed that the Traditional Owners of Maralinga were receptive to context-rich on-site engagement, often in an informal setting, such as on-site walkovers and discussions. As with many community audiences, the use of visual representations of results or involvement in planned activities achieves effective communication and a high level of engagement. Resulting in key learnings:

• adoption of non-intrusive investigation and remediation methodologies within culturally sensitive areas
• inclusion of aesthetic and physical hazards in the risk assessment evaluation to capture Traditional Owner expectations
• establishment of remediation goals and objectives in close collaboration with Traditional Owners
• development of multi-criteria analysis of remediation options that include social opportunities to the Traditional Owners (e.g. employment, infrastructure with lasting benefit)

Kleinfelder is an environmental consultancy firm, with offices in South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland, bringing together curious and dedicated engineering professionals offering a holistic approach to contamination investigation and remediation projects. Robert Kaftan: was the Kleinfelder Project Manager on the project. He is a Certified Environmental Practitioner, with 14 years of experience managing stakeholder concerns across a range of sectors, including as environment manager at Adelaide Airport. Robert is also an IAP2 Certified engagement practitioner and has led engagement activities with residents potentially impacted by site contamination as well as chairing project control groups with Federal and state regulators and health experts.