Australia: QGC Applauds Social Investment Partners

QGC Managing Director Derek Fisher has applauded community and not-for-profit organisations that QGC is working with in the Western Downs.

In an address to local groups at Chinchilla Cultural Centre, Mr Fisher said concepts had been generated by local people over the past three years to help QGC direct benefits from its Queensland Curtis LNG Project.

“I’m pleased that we have been able to say, more often than not, ‘that’s a great idea, what can QGC do to help?’,” he said.

QGC is committed to making a social contribution across its project area through its A$150 million social investment programs.

QGC’s Social Impact Management Plan, which is the first of its kind in Queensland, is focused on health and safety, housing, local employment and training, economic development, indigenous communities and social infrastructure.

“Much of our activity involves communities – towns like Chinchilla where families live and work, often in small businesses,” Mr Fisher said.

“We’ll be operating in these areas for decades and we set out at an early stage to ensure we listened to what was required by communities to maximise the benefits and manage the impacts of our work.”

Mr Fisher thanked three people who have been members of an assessment panel for the QGC Sustainable Communities Fund, to which applications can be made for grants.

QGC has given Cecilia Donohoe, Carollee Murphy and Joe Abbott paintings by local artist Cathy McClelland for their time and contribution, which has helped QGC provide more than A$1.2 million in grants to 38 projects in the Western Downs.

Since its launch in February 2011, the fund has helped 110 projects across QGC’s development area, with contributions of more than A$3.4 million.

“Without your local knowledge, expertise and commitment, the process and outcomes would be nowhere near as successful or beneficial,” Mr Fisher said.

A separate event to celebrate QGC’s community projects in the North Burnett and Banana shires will be held in Biloela.

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LNG World News Staff, February 22, 2013