Sustainability website / Case Studies 2004 / Xstrata copper / The Xstrata Community Partnership Programme in North Queensland

The Xstrata Community Partnership Programme in North Queensland

Since the formation of a single global copper business in January 2004, Xstrata Copper has undergone a successful business transformation in north Queensland to improve productivity, safety and operational efficiency. The Mount Isa community, in particular, has also enjoyed a renewed sense of enthusiasm. Additional local jobs have been created, new development projects have been approved and communication with employees and engagement with the community by the new senior management team has improved.

In December 2004, Xstrata Copper launched an AUD4 million, three-year community partnership programme as part of its business transformation in north Queensland. This programme aims to reinforce its commitment to local communities and to adopt a more strategic and sustainable approach to community support.

The Xstrata Community Partnership Programme was launched in Mount Isa by the Queensland State Development Minister and Member for Mount Isa, the Hon Tony McGrady, MP.

Xstrata Copper Chief Executive Charlie Sartain said the programme was a demonstration of the company's belief that local communities should benefit from Xstrata's operations in the short and long term.

"I look forward to sharing the benefits of our business performance with our employees, communities and our partner organisations through this programme," he said.

"The strength of our community partnership programme lies in the fact that it directly addresses the areas of most concern to local people, such as quality education for their children, access to medical care and youth employment and training."

Xstrata Copper Corporate Affairs Manager Sue Sara said in developing the programme, an extensive social involvement development process was undertaken for the first time, which involved a widespread consultation and community needs assessment with local stakeholders.

"Interviews with community representatives were conducted in Mount Isa, Cloncurry, Townsville and Bowen. In addition, our existing community programmes were benchmarked against programmes from other leading companies," she said.

"This process enabled us to identify the areas of greatest need in the north Queensland communities in which we operate, with a particular focus on education and health, and developing partnerships with local groups and government to address those needs."

The programme provides support across the six broad categories defined by our Group CSI policy - enterprise and job creation, environment, education, social and community, health, and arts and culture.

Some partnerships developed under our programme include:

Centacare indigenous employment and training: A partnership with Centacare Employment Mount Isa branch to train indigenous people for employment in the local mining industry and to help them find jobs and develop career paths (AUD150,000 over three years).

More doctors for Cloncurry: Bringing more doctors to Cloncurry in partnership with Queensland Health, north and west Queensland Primary Health Care, Queensland Rural Medical Support Agency, Gemini Medical Services and James Cook University (AUD245,000 over three years).

New electronic beds and helipad for Bowen Hospital: The partnership will fund two new electronic beds at the hospital and help build a new helipad (AUD66,000 over three years).

Cloncurry indigenous youth worker: Partnership with the Mitakoodi Aboriginal Development Corporation which operates in conjunction with existing Cloncurry Shire Council and police initiatives (AUD75,000 over three years).

Townsville State High School and Oonoonba State School (EnergySMART Schools): A partnership with the schools and the Townsville Technology, Maths and Science Centre of Excellence to support an innovative curriculum that brings renewable energy technology to the schools (AUD70,500 over three years).

Townview State School Multimedia Centre: A partnership with the school to equip a multimedia learning development centre to teach IT and technology-related skills (AUD160,000 over three years).

Buchanan Park: Contribution towards the redevelopment of this important recreational venue in Mount Isa (AUD1 million).

In addition to the AUD4 million funding, the community partnership programme includes a substantial commitment to addressing the skills shortage in the north Queensland mining industry by tripling Xstrata's apprenticeship intake over the next three years and by providing more traineeships, bursaries and scholarships.

Xstrata Copper will also invest AUD460,000 in the north Queensland communities in 2005 - in addition to the community partnership programme - which will be directed towards sponsorships, donations and other community support initiatives, such as the Mount Isa Mining Expo, the Mount Isa Rotary Rodeo, the Cloncurry Merry Muster and the Outback at Isa tourism attraction at Mount Isa.