The survey was conducted by the Australian Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility and commissioned by the NSW Minerals Council.

Respondents gave below average scores on a range of questions used to measure community perceptions, including social license to operate, reputation, relationship quality and social capital.

Although the industry as a whole was rated negatively, the 93 respondents rate relationships with individual mining companies more favourably.

Of the top 10 issues for coal mining, most important was dust and air quality, which was raised the most times (95). It was mentioned by all groups.

Next most important was employment opportunities and development. Public health impact was mentioned 61 times.

There was agreement by the respondents that cumulative impacts exist and they recognised a shared responsibility for solving problems of cumulative impacts.

The groups in the survey included mining company representatives, Community Consultative Committee (CCC) representatives of indigenous organisations, senior government representatives (including state and federal government politicians and public service members), local councils, industry/business groups, environment/resident action groups, community/education and media, individual opinion leaders and agribusiness.

There were 22 representatives from mining companies, 15 from environment/resident action groups, 15 from CCC/indigenous groups, 12 from industry and business, 10 individual opinion leaders, seven senior government representatives, five community/education/media, four local council representatives and three agribusiness representatives.

Dust and air quality, public health and agricultural land use were the three top issues mentioned in environment, health and safety issues.

Dust and air quality was raised more often by the mining company representatives than any other environment, health and safety issue.