The mining company at the heart of the Esperance lead contamination saga, Magellan Metals, has started awarding funds to the local community as part of its $1 million commitment to the town.
The mining company at the heart of the Esperance lead contamination saga, Magellan Metals, has started awarding funds to the local community as part of its $1 million commitment to the town.
The announcement is below:
Ten Esperance based community organisations have been chosen to receive a total of $298,273 in financial support for a variety of local projects from the Magellan Metals Community Fund this year.
The successful organisations sought and will receive the following funding:
- $62,500 to Friends of the Esperance Jetty for an underwater study of the Esperance Tanker Jetty, to assess future restoration requirements
- $50,000 to the Restore Hope Foundation, Esperance, for a mobile commercial kitchen
- $50,000 to the Esperance Volunteer Sea Search and Rescue Group to build a drydock for the rescue vessel "Volunteer 2"
- $40,000 to the Quarry Road Bush Fire Brigade to build a new fire shed
- $22,000 to assist the Esperance Historical Society Inc to establish a heritage walk "From Sailing Ships to Skylab"
- $22,000 to Adventureland Park towards a "Tower of Slides" at the Ralph Bower Adventureland Park
- $20,000 to the South East Runners Club to purchase a trailer/mobile clubhouse, including first aid facilities
- $10,800 to St John Ambulance Esperance Sub Centre to purchase a Ferno E Stretcher
- $10,973 to the Esperance Goldfields Surf Lifesaving Club for new equipment
- $10,000 to the Esperance Brass Band to purchase a trailer to transport instruments
The Magellan Metals Community Fund received an extremely strong response to its inaugural funding round, with 49 applications received, requesting A$1.2 million in total.
The Assessment Committee comprising representatives from the local community, the Shire of Esperance and Magellan Metals had a difficult task choosing between many deserving submissions, with the Committee particularly seeking projects that would provide a sustainable and tangible benefit to the broader Esperance community.
Esperance Shire President Ian Mickel said, "We look forward to seeing the positive impact the funding has on our community as the projects are implemented."
Magellan Metals established the A$1 million fund last year with administrative assistance from the Esperance Shire Council. Each year for three years through to 2011, approximately $300,000 is available to support projects that build community capacity in Esperance. $50,000 has been committed towards the purchase of a CT Scanner for the Esperance Hospital.
General Manager Corporate Social Responsibility at Magellan Metals, John Yeates said "We were very pleased with the level of interest and quality of projects put forward for funding in this our first year and we look forward to following the successful projects as they are implemented."
Dr Yeates also commented, "The Committee was faced with a tough task to choose between the submissions, however we believe we've arrived at the right mix of projects that will support the broader community over the longer term. A number of projects not selected in this first round have been encouraged to re-apply next year."
Successful applicants will sign a contractual agreement, which stipulates an agreed use for the funds and a set timeline for disbursement.
The next funding round will be announced towards the end of 2009 with community groups and non-profit organisations encouraged to apply.
