Australia: QGC Sustainable Communities Fund Launched

Coal seam gas company QGC Pty Limited is inviting applications for grants under a new $6 million fund to support short-term, one-off projects driven by the community.

The QGC Sustainable Communities Fund is intended to help not-for-profit groups and local government organisations in the footprint of the company’s Queensland Curtis LNG Project, which spans the Western Downs, Banana, North Burnett and Gladstone local government areas.

QGC will contribute up to $6 million to the fund over four years, to be dispensed to eligible groups in grants between $10,001 and $50,000.

QGC Managing Director Catherine Tanna said the fund was an important element of QGC’s Sustainable Communities Program which incorporated a range of community consultation and investment activities.

The QGC Sustainable Communities Fund would give people in the company’s area of operations a direct say in how QGC invested in the community.

“That involves working closely with communities on initiatives to mitigate any impact our project work may have and to make a positive contribution where we can.”

Ms Tanna said the fund could help communities affected by widespread flooding in Queensland, particularly QGC’s heartland in the Surat Basin.

“This has been an extremely difficult and tragic time for many people across Queensland and our thoughts are with them,” Ms Tanna said.

“We encourage eligible organisations to submit applications for funding, and look forward to working with them to bring their ideas to fruition.”

Three panels – one for each core area of the QCLNG Project – will assess applications.

The panels will comprise equal numbers of QGC and community representatives.

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Source: QGC, February 1, 2010;