Five Upper Hunter charities have shared in $32,500 because of the coal hauled by five Hunter Valley Operations' (HVO) mining trucks.
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Representatives from Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service, Hunter Prostate Cancer Alliance, Hunter Breast Cancer Foundation, Type 1 Foundation and Singleton Family Support received their donations from HVO general manager Dave Foster at a presentation this week.
Mr Foster said this is the first of annual donations the charities will receive based on the haulage of the trucks.
He said the charity truck program is also about building partnerships with the charities and raising community and staff awareness about the services the charities provide.
"We chose these five charities because of the positive difference they make to our local community," Mr Foster said.
"We have provided other support to some of these charities through our workplace giving and community grants programs as well as through other fundraising and donations," he said.
"Our 21 year old workplace giving partnership with Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service has provided more than $1.1 million to help the service to save lives of Upper Hunter people."
"Our charity truck partnerships are another way we can give back to our community, that aligns with our values - think sharp, dig in and care. Charity and community support is one part of how we support our local and the broader community. Our direct socio economic contribution in 2022 was almost $1.5 billion."
The five trucks each weigh 521 tonne and have a payload capacity of 304 tonne. They are part of a new fleet of mining equipment that is more fuel efficient, has a larger capacity, are quieter and provide better operator amenity.
"Modern equipment reduces our noise impacts and fuel use, which is good news for the operation, our people, the broader community and the environment."
Singleton Family Support project officer Diana Deaves said the funding and partnership with HVO helps to raise awareness of and to deliver services to really fulfill the needs of local families.
"Hunter Valley Operations does a lot for the Singleton community and without their help we wouldn't be able to help the community," Ms Deaves said.
"We work with a lot of families in the Singleton community, including some that are going through extremely difficult times," she said.
"This funding is particularly helpful in continuing our parenting programs and wellbeing programs for local clients."
"This is a really important partnership. HVO has supported Singleton Family Support Service on numerous occasions. We are proud of the work we do and it is very exciting to see our service's logo on a HVO mining truck."
Hunter Prostate Cancer Alliance CEO Alex Sovechles said the funding and partnership with HVO is incredibly important in helping to get the message out to men in the Hunter to check in with their GP about early detection of prostate cancer.
"The HVO funding will allow us to continue to raise awareness about prostate cancer and continue our free counselling service for men and their families impacted by a prostate cancer diagnosis," Mr Sovechles said.
Representatives from Hunter Business, Singleton Business Chamber and Muswellbrook Chamber of Commerce and Industry joined State Member for Upper Hunter Dave Layzell MP and Federal Member for the Hunter Dan Repacholi MP at the funding presentation.
HVO produces thermal coal and semi-soft metallurgical coal from its mine near Singleton with a workforce of approximately 1,200 people. The mine is currently seeking approval to continue mining until 2050.
