Community Relations
Minara has a comprehensive community relations strategy encompassing strong relationships that have been fostered over many years. Minara generously donates to the local community and assists in fundraising activities and local training and development programs.
Minara considers strong community relations vital to the long term operational and financial success of the company. Minara also enhances this support through the Minara Community Foundation.
In 2007 Minara established the Minara Community Foundation (Foundation) in partnership with the Western Australian Community Foundation (WACF) for the long-term benefit of the aboriginal people in the Northern Goldfields region and people in the wider communities impacted by its Murrin Murrin operations.
Minara's contribution to the Foundation comprises an initial contribution of $1 million, and a further $250,000 per financial year for five years. The initial money has been invested and the annual contribution plus a portion of the return on the investment will be made available each year as grants for use by the community.
The Foundation supports projects that provide economic, social, cultural and heritage benefits. It is used to assist in funding essential communication and transport services, and programs and initiatives for future generations.
WACF acts as an independent body to oversee the distribution of grants from the Foundation. WACF is assisted by the local advisory committee - made up of members of the Northern Goldfields community, industry and Minara - which liaises between the community and the Foundation board to ensure the most effective distribution of the grants each year.
A total of 19 applications were received in 2009 for the Foundation's second annual commitment, with six projects totalling $108,000 approved for funding. The foundation's Local Advisory Committee recommended the remaining $142,000 of the company's annual contribution be used to grow the endowment.
The successful six projects were:
- $50,000 to the Shire of Leonora, in support of the Leonora Golden Gift community and sporting carnival,
- $20,000 towards the restoration costs of the heritage listed People's Church in Kalgoorlie, predominantly used by the region's indigenous persons,
- $15,000 to the Karlkurla Language & Culture Aboriginal Corporation's Language Maintenance program, aimed at recording and preserving the Wongi language,
- $10,000 to the Burnna Yurrul Aboriginal Corporation to replace a truck engine to ensure the continuation of maintenance to community housing, provide local workers with opportunities and decrease reliance on outside contractors,
- $8,000 to the Leonora Bush Mission for the ‘Holiday Club', a five-day program open to all young persons in the Shire of Leonora, offering a range of meaningful health, cultural, community development and recreation activities, and
- $5,000 to ‘Vibe Alive' towards the costs of a two-day education and performance festival for young Australians held in Kalgoorlie in August.
The funds will continue to grow over the years and be a benefit to communities and future generations beyond the life of the Murrin Murrin operations.
Groups wishing to access funds will need to follow a formal application process. Guidelines and forms for this process are available at www.wacf.org.au or by calling the Western Australian Community Foundation on (08) 9224 6000.
Links - http://www.wacf.org.au/
Dowload - Minara Community Foundation Brochure