Rio Tinto Coal Australia helps give Clermont a spring clean

More than 15 truck loads of rubbish have been removed from road verges around Clermont, thanks to a number of local community groups and Rio Tinto Coal Australia's Blair Athol Mine and Clermont Mine.

Seven local community groups joined mine staff including Clermont Mine Project employees from Sinclair Knight Mertz (SKM) to pick up rubbish along road verges between the township of Clermont to both Blair Athol and Clermont mines on Saturday (October 25) in a bid to reduce the amount of litter on local roads.

Blair Athol Mine general manager operations Andrew Cole said the project was an initiative on behalf of the Clermont Community Consultative Committee (CCC), a group that includes members of the Clermont community and representatives from Rio Tinto Coal Australia who meet quarterly to share information and provide feedback on activities relating to Rio Tinto's operations in the Clermont area.

"We aim to be more than just a major source of local employment and economic growth," Mr Cole said.

"Rather our aim is to work in partnership with the local community and help address issues facing our region.

"For the past two years we have been working together with the CCC, to help provide positive long term outcomes for the Clermont region and this project is just one example.

"We have received very positive feedback from the clean up and it was great to see so many local community groups helping out on the day."

The Clermont Fish Stocking Group, Clermont Junior Cricket Association, Clermont Junior League, St Joseph's School, Clermont Pony Club, Dolphins Swimming Club and Monash Lodge helped with the clean up, with each group receiving a donation from Blair Athol and Clermont mines for their assistance.

"We are committed to a goal of zero injuries so safety is our number one priority. As a result, we provided each participant involved in the clean up with high visibility vests, gloves, protective eye wear and sunscreen," Clermont Mine general manager construction David Lamb said.

"I would like to commend the local community for throwing its weight behind this initiative and for making our local region a cleaner place to live."

ENDS
Media Enquiries:
Nathan Scholz 3361 4354 / 0417 613 174

Media release - Rio Tinto Coal Australia helps give Clermont a spring clean [PDF: 18 KB]