Newmont Mining Corporation

The Gnaala Karla Booja People, the Traditional Owners of land in the Boddington area, held a smoking ceremony to celebrate an historic Community Partnership Agreement between Noongar (tribe) people and our mine. Designed to acknowledge their relationship to the land, the agreement provided a process through which mutual respect and common interests is being achieved. It also is helping build a stronger economic base for Indigenous people and their children.

"This agreement is about long-term and sustainable results for both the Noongar and the mine owners," said Glen Kelly, CEO of the South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council, which provided support and assistance to the Gnaala Karla Booja people during negotiations.

Under the agreement, Boddington is required to provide prevocational training and directly employ a minimum of 100 Indigenous employees throughout the life of our mine. Our operation also will provide annual financial assistance to the Gnaala Karla Booja people starting in 2009. The money will be distributed to a charitable trust managed by a Traditional Owner Liaison Committee and mine representatives, who will determine annually how to invest the money for such uses as local business development and community projects.

Additionally, our mine will develop and contract with Indigenous-owned business enterprises and to promote education opportunities through scholarships, internships and apprenticeships.

"The agreement's social package targets school retention through scholarships, training with assured employment outcomes, and cultural support," Kelly said. "This will ensure tangible and long-term results. In my opinion, this will have a large and positive impact on the well-being of the Noongar people."

There are currently more than 40 Noongar people employed at the mine though Newmont and its contractors. Newmont has a dedicated Indigenous Employment Advisor.

Boddington's hiring process for Aboriginal people is through a pre-employment selection process that links to an on-site career development program which equips candidates to become part of the operation. Some Gnaala Karla Booja people with mine experience are directly employment into the operation. Retention strategies include mentoring, career path development, skill-building training, cross cultural awareness training and leadership training.

Newmont Boddington Gold recognises that the support of our local community is critical to the success of our business and, as such, has developed partnerships with both the Traditional Owners and the broader community.

Among the most significant initiatives undertaken as part of the mine expansion was the signing of a Community Partnership Agreement with the Gnaala Karla Booja people, which sets forth the foundation for an Indigenous employment, education and training strategy.

Newmont Boddington Gold is committed to employing 100 Gnaala Karla Booja and other Noongar people during the mine's operation. The company has also provided two blocks of residential land in town to the Shire of Boddington as a contribution towards capital seed funding to establish a Long Day Care Centre in the town.

Community relations professionals based at Boddington Old School host a quarterly workshop where the status of the operation is presented and economic, community and environmental information is shared.

Newmont Boddington Gold is also a member of strategic community and government committees, including the Local Emergency Management Committee, Child Care Development Committee and the WA Government Social Infrastructure Development Planning Group.

The Boddington Gold Community Assistance Program aims to support community initiatives that offer long-term sustainable benefits. Since construction of Newmont Boddington Gold began in 2006, the joint venture owners, Newmont Mining Corporation and AngloGold Ashanti Ltd, have invested more than $200,000 in local projects.

Projects supported by Newmont Boddington Gold include:

• Bibbulmun Track Foundation
• Boddington Old School
• Dwellingup Primary School
• Dwellingup Playgroup
• Wandering Playgroup
• Boddington Lions
• Boddington Ute Muster
• Golden Shears
• Boddington Tidy Towns Committee
• World Environment Day  

For further information, please call 9883 9925.

Adapted from Beyondthemine.com

The Boddington Gold Community Environment Committee was established in 2006 as part of Newmont's commitment to keeping the community informed on key environmental matters related to the Boddington. Committee members have a wide range of professional and personal backgrounds. Members engage with stakeholders on local issues, develop partnership arrangements with other key players and work with Newmont's environmental staff and Traditional Owners on developing and implementing a closure and future land use plan for the site. The committee also identifies and works on key environmental projects to enhance the local community.

In 2008, the Community Environment Committee focused World Environment Day activities on vulnerable and endangered fauna, including the Carnaby's Black Cockatoos. In 2009, Boddington continued the success of World Environment Day and identified two new projects to support--the Hotham River Boardwalk development and improving information and rest areas along the Bibbulmun Track.