Enews

In this edition

• Royalties for Regions funding boost
• Women in Mining Forum
• Launch of the Mt Charlotte Reservoir project
• Ore'some GEMIA rock festival
• Norseman Main Street upgrade
• Goldfields Esperance Region Outstanding VET Student of the Year
• GEDC Board travel the region
• GEDC Supports Work Experience
• Great Western Woodlands

Successful Royalties for Regions applications announced !

Royalties for Regions funding boost

Minister for Regional Development Brendon Grylls’ Royalties for Regions Scheme proved a resounding success in regional WA with 836 applications, worth AU$179 million, received in the first round. This welcome injection of funds was oversubscribed in all regions.

In the Goldfields-Esperance region, the scheme proved very popular with non-profit organisations, local government and business entities and attracted 81 applications requesting over AU$13.9 million for an allocated AU$3.5 million. The competition was high and 23 projects were successful.

The projects supported by the GEDC range from AU$7,000 up to AU$500,000 in value from projects benefiting tourism, children, the environment and greening our region, to helping groups in need, local government and indigenous organisations.

GEDC CEO, Robert Hicks, said that the first round of Royalties for Regions had worked well. “There is a clear demand for additional funding for critical projects and this has been evidenced by the strong response of applicants” he added.

To view the full list of successful applications please visit; http://www.royaltiesforregions.wa.gov.au/Content/MajorProjects/RGS/Successful.aspx

The next Royalties for Regions funding round is yet to be announced however the GEDC will promote the second round via its website and through the media.

Women in Mining Forum

Over 160 female students from five High Schools in the region, 15 teachers plus 90 guests from the Goldfields, Perth and beyond attended the very successful Women in Mining Forum organised by the Goldfields Education Mining Industry Alliance (GEMIA) on 20 May.

Inaugurated in 2008, the Women in Mining Forum’s main objectives are to increase the awareness and interest of young women in the resource sector as a source of employment. The Forum concept is reinforced by a recent Chamber of Minerals and Energy research paper which documents the under representation of females in the sector.

The Goldfields-Esperance Development Commission has been involved in the project since its inception and plays a significant role in its coordination and all aspects of the event management.

This year's Women in Mining Forum received strong sponsorship from WesTrac, Anglo Gold Ashanti, KCGM, the Chamber of Minerals and Energy and financial and in kind support from at least eight other organisations including the GEDC initiated Goldfields-Esperance Community Foundation.

The Forum is designed to give female secondary students a professional introduction to the working world of the resources sector and meet inspirational mining professionals in an interactive, fun and informative environment. It is the perfect opportunity to support young women in their career choices and grow the skill base of the resources and related sectors in the Goldfields region for the long term.

Post event evaluations by students show that prior to the Forum only 30% had considered resources related careers. After the Forum, 85% said the Forum helped them consider mining related careers, 61% science related careers and 55% trades in the resources sector.

This represents a remarkable influence on broadening the career choices of these young people and augurs well for the future of the region.

Launch of the Mt Charlotte Reservoir project

Startling form, sustainable design and a showcase of Western Australian native plants are key components of Kalgoorlie-Boulder’s newest heritage tourist attraction taking shape at Mt Charlotte Reservoir, one of the WA Goldfields most visited landmarks. On-site earthmoving equipment rolled out 1 July 2009, to begin the construction phase of the National Trust of Australia (WA)’s Waterwise Entry Garden at Mt Charlotte.

Just 24 hours earlier, the project was awarded AU$115,500 in the inaugural round of the Royalties for Regions Goldfields-Esperance Regional Grants Scheme and received a further AU$20,000 in sponsorship from Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mine (KCGM).

Key sponsors of the project including Nickel West, Water Corporation, City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder, the Kalgoorlie Boulder Urban Landcare Group (KBULG) as well as staff from the Eastern Goldfields Regional Prison attended the Mt Charlotte launch and undertook a tour of the site with representatives from the National Trust of Australia (WA) including the designer of the Waterwise Garden. The project has also been supported by two Lotterywest grants.

Mt Charlotte is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Kalgoorlie. The Mount Charlotte Reservoir was the "end point" of the Goldfields Water Supply Scheme which is now widely recognised as one of the world’s engineering marvels. It is one of the few publicly-accessible, elevated viewpoints overlooking the Kalgoorlie-Boulder townsites and surrounding area.

The new Waterwise Entry Garden and Brockway Trail are the latest additions to the work completed in 2002 to finalise the eastern trail head for the Golden Pipeline Heritage Trail.

Ore'some GEMIA rock festival

National Science Week is alive and well in the Goldfields-Esperance region with the second annual Goldfields Education Mining Industry Alliance Inc. (GEMIA) Rock Festival scheduled for the 18th and 19th of August this year. The Goldfields-Esperance Development Commission, with its strong commitment to developing a skilled workforce and interest in education and training initiatives, is again supporting the innovative Rock Festival with coordination through the GEMIA group. Additionally the GEDC is also a major sponsor through a Goldfields-Esperance Regional Development Scheme grant.

GEDC Chief Executive Officer Robert Hicks said “the GEMIA Rock Festival is a Goldfields invention. It’s a unique and successful way of introducing school students to the science of mining where they get to try the various discipline areas, geology, mines rescue, environmental science, engineering and metallurgy with real mining professionals assisting them with the activities”.

“It's this ‘hands on’ approach that appeals to the students, helps them learn and even inspires them to consider careers in the resources sector” he added.

This year's Rock Festival has students coming from over twenty schools across the Goldfields-Esperance region. Students may participate in a variety of activities which may include a scrap heap challenge, great wheelbarrow race, process control, gold exploration (geology/surveying), plate tectonics and volcanoes, minerals and crystal prospecting, mine rescue, astronomy,conservation, environment and pollution and gold panning.

All students will have the opportunity to enjoy competitions and exhibitions, the WASM Wombat traditional mining technique competition exhibition and a school Rock Band concert.

Community involvement will include astronomy activities, a lecture series and a “Science of Life and Earth ”art competition. The festival will be held at the Mining Hall of Fame, Goldfields Road Kalgoorlie, and will be open to the public.

Norseman Main Street upgrade

The upgrade and beautification of the main street in Norseman is in full swing with the project due to be completed in August 2009.

The project which received GERDS funding from the Goldfields-Esperance Development Commission will enhance the overall experience of the main street and encourage greater community appreciation of the town.

Shire of Dundas CEO Richard Brooks said "council had been planning to upgrade the main street for a couple of years now and the funding received from GEDC has allowed this project to advance".

" We also hope to meet with the shop owners shortly to work together on improving the shop front facades, which will compliment the current work being done".

Goldfields Esperance Region Outstanding VET Student of the Year

Curtin VTEC held its annual graduation ceremony on the 29 May 2009 with GEDC CEO Robert Hicks attending to present the Goldfields-Esperance Region Outstanding VET Student of the Year award sponsored by the GEDC. The ceremony recognises outstanding students through awards that acknowledge their commitment to academic study, their activities in the workplace and their contribution to the wider community.

The winner of the Goldfields-Esperance Region Outstanding VET Student of the Year Award was Denise Lynch. Denise completed Certificate III in Social Housing while she was employed as a housing officer at Kurrawang community. Denise showed enthusiasm in taking on this challenge and commitment and dedication to her studies. Her commitment to improving the living conditions and general housing for local communities showed in the high standard of her work.

Denise also went on to win the Indigenous Student of the Year award, sponsored by Nooda Ngulegoo Aboriginal Corporation. Other award winners included Kelli Clune who won the Vocational Student of the Year Award, sponsored by the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Rachel Paul who won the Apprentice/Trainee of the Year Award, sponsored by the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder.

GEDC Board travel the region

The GEDC Board meets every second month and travels throughout the region. Recently the Board met at the famous Hoover House, Gwalia/Leonora.

Chairman, Graham Thomson, said “This calendar year the Board has met in Hopetoun and Leonora and is scheduled to hold its August 09 meeting in Norseman”.

“ It’s important for the Board to travel throughout this vast region. We are always made to feel welcome and are able to better appreciate regional issues from a local perspective. By expending the shoe leather and getting out-and-about we are able to make better and more informed decisions as well as to consolidate the GEDCs good relations with many of our key regional stakeholders”.

In Leonora the Board met with the Shire of Leonora’s CEO, Jim Epis and also received a briefing from BHP Billiton on their proposed Yeelirrie uranium project and Minara Resource’s Murrin Murrin nickel project.

GEDC Supports Work Experience

A partnership between the Goldfields-Esperance Development Commission (GEDC) and Western Australian School of Mines (WASM) gave Caitlin Hay, year 10 student at John Paul College, the chance to explore her interest in economics as a future career through her work experience placement at GEDC and WASM.

Caitlin sought out a workplace where she could experience economics in practice at the recent year 10 Careers Forum organised through the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Local Community Partnership in which the GEDC is involved.

Sustaining a strong regional economy through various strategies such as a targeted approach to enhancing training and education opportunities in the region made the GEDC the perfect place for Caitlin to start her week of work experience.
Caitlin spoke with the GEDC staff about their role and the GEDC’s vision and purpose.

“Caitlin’s main interest is economics, and we were keen to provide her with knowledge of the significant impact of the GEDC on the economy of the region through the work we do. We were also keen for Caitlin to experience working in Government, and for her to realise the variety of options available to her” said Senior Project Officer Sarah Fletcher.

“Caitlin gained an understanding of how the GEDC works with other government agencies, the community and industry to effect economic change. She also completed practical exercises on the GEDC’s regional economic modelling software, comparing the benefits of investing stimulus dollars in the retail industry over the manufacturing sector”, she added.

Caitlin said “after working at GEDC she was now even more interested in economic's as a career path”.

Great Western Woodlands

As part of the State Government’s election promise to develop a 'Great Western Woodlands Biodiversity Conservation Strategy', the Minister for Environment (Hon. Donna Faragher JP MLC) has created a Stakeholder reference group (SRG). The SRG is part of the Government’s consultation process which aims to ensure that all 'conservation, scientific, indigenous and local government activities are fully taken into account' when looking at protecting the natural and cultural values of GWW.

Members of the SRG include, among others, the Goldfields Land and Sea Council, Department of Mines and Petroleum, Department of Environment and Conservation, Chamber of Minerals and Energy, Pastoralist and Graziers Association, the Goldfields Esperance Development Commission, as well as Local Government representatives, GondwanaLink and The Wilderness Society.

With the active encouragement of the GEDC, the inaugural meeting of the SRG was held in Kalgoorlie on the 15th July 2009. It was chaired by Mr Jim Sharp, DEC Deputy Director – General, and was well attended; with all parties making valuable contributions to the process.

“The concept behind the reference group is to make sure all those with an interest in the area have their views represented on the outcome of the best strategic way to conserve the woodlands. The SRG would provide advice to the Environment Minister that would allow her to fast track plans needed to better protect the Woodlands, including upgrading millions of hectares of unallocated Crown land” Mr Sharp said after the meeting.

GEDC CEO Mr Robert Hicks made the point that it was important to have the inaugural meeting in the Goldfields, where the woodlands were mainly located.

“The ultimate aim is to provide the Government with a management strategy for the future that will look at how best the woodlands can be preserved, giving due regard to special interests like the mining and pastoral industries” Mr Hicks said.

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