Through each stage of our operations, we consider the impact of our operations on local communities. We see ensuring our presence contributes positively to the communities in which we operate as critical to the ongoing viability of our business. Without their support and understanding, a number of our operations would face considerable operational difficulty and likely long term reputational damage.

 

In addition to regular community consultation, we contribute regularly to the communities surrounding our operations. The focus of the community activities covered in this report is on our operations in Taranaki, New Zealand as it is a material site to the business, totally within our control situated near a large community. As many of our other Australian and controlled operations are remote the majority of our community activities are focused throughout the Taranaki region.

 

We endeavour to ensure our community contributions:

− address community needs, in consultation with the community;

− provide a measurable positive impact, socially, economically and environmentally; and

− deliver long term benefits by generating programs and skills which are self-supporting once AWE’s participation ends.

 

In order to deliver long term and self-supporting benefit to the communities in which we operate, a large component of our community contribution is in supporting education initiatives, in particular the education of young people.

 

Once again this year, we sponsored the highly successful youth mentoring program, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Taranaki (“BBBS”). There has been a 21% growth in the number of mentor matches made, bringing the total to 80 mentor matches in the New Plymouth region. Due to its success regionally, along with our Taranaki partner Mitsui, the program expanded to a national one, increasing the locations around New Zealand from 10 to 13. This was kicked off with the appointment of a National Coordinator in October 2009, the launch of a new website, a national conference and a regional staff training program.

 

This year the Tui JV partners combined with the New Plymouth District Council to develop a water safety training program for the region’s youth, with the aim of encouraging as many children as possible to be able to swim 200m continuously by the age of 12. The program has been received well, and to date has trained over 360 students. See the case study for further information on the Water Safety Project.

 

In addition to supporting these two major programs, we contribute to a variety of other youth focused programs including the local Youth Summer Soccer league and supporting local schools with Science and Maths fairs, and art and cultural programs. Our people also have the opportunity to get directly involved in the community and some are mentors at local schools under the Young Enterprise Scheme.

 

Into the second year of a three year contract, we are continuing to work with the Coastal School on their Sustainability Project which is run school wide. Its initiatives include gardening and seed propagation skills, as well as proper waste management. Working in consultation with the local Iwi and community we also support the Waikirikiri Lagoon & Beach Restoration Project which involves fencing and planting of native vegetation and ongoing maintenance of the Waikirikiri lagoon area.

 

In addition to a number of other smaller sponsorships both in Australia and New Zealand, we sponsor the Taranaki Women’s Surf Festival, which showcases Taranaki’s pristine beaches and environment as well as two of Taranaki’s secondary school rugby representative teams.