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APC's commitment to building stronger communities includes:
APC is committed to supporting jobs, economic development and building capability in the local communities which are close to our operations. For our flagship Lake Wells SOP Project, this means the remote community of Laverton. The Project also represents a brand new export industry for WA.
To help our understanding we have worked closely with the Shire of Laverton, the Laverton School and other important stakeholders in the region, and we will continue to work with our community to ensure we are a good neighbour.
Also see Our People.
The Lake Wells SOP Project enjoys strong community support. As part of the planned development APC is committed to supporting jobs, economic development and building capability in local communities. The Company has always been invested in making real substantive change to the Laverton community through our close working relationship with the Shire and the township.
The Company has extended this endeavour by pledging jobs through the excellent and sector leading programs of the Waalitj Foundation (formerly the Wirrpanda Foundation) that encompass work skills, on the job mentoring and ongoing employment support for indigenous new hires.
Across the various stages of development of the Lake Wells SOP Project, the Company has established indigenous employment targets of between 12% and 15%, which will apply across APC and contractors appointed to undertake work packages.
The Lake Wells SOP Project will provide opportunities for a drive-in/drive-out workforce from Laverton and surrounding communities.
Being located in a very remote area of Western Australia provides challenges across many fronts. However, APC has developed the opportunity to engage with local and regional contractors to provide the backbone of the contracting strategy for the development and operation of the Lake Wells SOP Project. Augmented with the training and education commitment the APC has given the local community, it is anticipated that the existing contractor base will continue to build as indigenous skillsets develop in the region.
The Company recommends tenderers for all work packages use the services of the Industry Capability Network of Western Australia (ICNWA) to increase participation by Northern Australian industry in particular, and local industry in general, on the Lake Wells SOP Project.
Of the eight major construction packages of work, two have already been awarded to indigenous companies. CAdd is a construction company backed by Carey Mining and Add Business Group that is both operationally competent and has indigenous employment and engagement as a priority. They are overseeing the construction and installation of the accommodation units at the Lake Wells Village.
The C&C JV, a joint venture between Carey Mining and Centrals Earthmoving, have responsibility for the civil earthworks at the Lake Wells SOP Project.
APC is the foundation sponsor of the Laverton Training Centre (LTC), coordinating a remote training program specifically tailored to working with disadvantaged people who endure low literacy and numeracy levels, intergenerational welfare dependence and trauma, generally poor health, and little or no forms of formal identification; all of which are barriers to employment.
The LTC will provide remote access to nationally accredited vocational training, and create opportunities for local Aboriginal people to be trained into local employment, and also increase vocational skill sets. The LTC will prioritise its training pathways to facilitate local and remote northern Goldfields workforce participation in regional projects and programs (including remote ranger programs and remote infrastructure projects of community benefit).
Further information on the LTC is available here.
APC has also invested in a significant three year Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) Program in the Laverton School which comprises of the Laverton, Mulga Queen and Cosmo Newberry remote campuses. After a successful innovation day in 2020, the Laverton STEM Program is running from 2021-2023 and offering students exposure to this curricula and hands on learning in the subjects.
Further information on the Laverton STEM Program is available here.
APC is committed to implementing an effective and transparent engagement, communication and reporting process with the indigenous people that have cultural affiliations with the Lake Wells Sulphate of Potash Project area, as well as other stakeholders.
The Company holds Community Engagement Meetings every six months and alternate between a webinar and a town hall style discussion in Laverton. Ahead of each meeting, APC provides an update on the Lake Wells SOP Project and the activities the Company intends to undertake in the next period. These meetings are also an opportunity for stakeholders to provide feedback and ask questions.
Further information regarding the latest Community Engagement Meeting is available here.
On 26 July 2021 the CEO of the Department of Water and Environment approved APC’s Cultural Heritage Management Plan (CHMP). The primary objective of the CHMP is to avoid where possible and minimise impacts to heritage sites and cultural values and guides personnel as when a pre-clearance archaeological survey is required. These surveys are required in areas that have a high-risk of containing heritage sites, where ground disturbing activities are proposed in an area not previously disturbed or if the area has not been the subject of a pre-clearance survey.
Further information on recent heritage surveys is available here.
APC became a member of the Laverton Cross Cultural Association (LCCA) in 2020, through presenting to the Laverton Stakeholders Group, holding community forums on the Project development and organising and implementing the STEM Innovation Day at the Laverton School.
The charitable objectives of the LCCA are to:
Through its membership of the LCCA, APC has committed to supporting programs of support for the Pakaanu Aboriginal Corporation. Recent initiatives being driven by the LCCA include:
Membership of the LCCA comprises APC, Pakaanu, the Laverton Stakeholder Group and several regional mining companies.
In addition to the significant regional benefit the Lake Wells SOP Project will deliver, there are tangible benefits that will accrue to the Western Australian agricultural industry with the creation of a local supply of this premium fertiliser. APC's work in this area includes the Sulphate of Potash for WA Farmers Study which commenced in 2019.
Further information on the SOPWA Study is available here.
