Cliffs Natural Resources (Cliffs) aims to partner the communities in which it operates by;

• Building capacity within communities
• Enhancing lifestyle
• Supporting communities with a buy local policy

Key communities are Southern Cross, located near Cliffs mining operation at Koolyanobbing, and Esperance from where the company’s ore is exported.

Our Approach

Cliffs seeks to engage openly and honestly with communities and are committed to adding value to communities over and above the legislative and licensing requirements placed upon the company

Cliffs community engagement and support is evident in:

• the way we responsibly operate in, and partner  with our communities, through being actively involved in community programs and initiatives
• our commitment to social investment
• our environmental stewardship
• our respect for the rights and culture of every community.

Cliffs aims to establish and maintain relationships with our community stakeholders in a proactive manner. . Our community stakeholders are the individuals and groups with direct links to the immediate and surrounding areas of Cliffs’ operations and can include:

• Employees and their families
• Suppliers
• Neighbours, community groups, clubs and civic organisations
• Chambers of Commerce and economic development organisations
• Educational institutions
• Local, state and federal governments
• Non-profit organisations
• Indigenous Communities

 Cliffs communicates with these stakeholders formally and informally– for instance, presentations and discussions with local community organisations and NGOs, responses to individual inquiries and dialogue with local, state and federal government officials.

Supporting the Community

Throughout 2011, Cliffs contributed nearly AU$500,000 in sponsorships and donations as well as in-kind support. Cliffs have sponsored high profile events such as the Esperance International Tennis Tournament , Youth Focus ‘Ride for Youth Bike Challenge’ and Keep Australia Beautiful ‘Tidy Towns – Sustainable Communities Program’. There have also been numerous organisations that have received funding through the Cliffs Community Fund which assists  to support existing initiatives, foster new ideas and to encourage development that enhance people’s lives. Cliffs’ employees have participated in community events such as the Southern Cross and Esperance Agricultural Shows and have raised funds through involvement in events such as HeartKids Bike Ride and the City to Surf.

For a complete list of 2011 sponsorships please click here.

In addition to sponsorship and donations Cliffs’ tries to maximise opportunities for local communities to participate in our business. Students from Southern Cross District High School and Esperance Senior High School have taken part in career development through career days and work experience on site.

Our operations attempt to employ locally where possible and the company pursues as buy local policy wherever possible when purchasing goods and services.

Indigenous Affairs

We engage in open and constructive consultation with indigenous groups that have traditional relationships with our areas of mining activity. Agreements with indigenous groups provide for economic sufficiency, identification and protection of heritage sites, and the development and implementation of cultural awareness programs for our employees and contractors.

Cliffs operates with full regard to legislative requirements for ensuring heritage areas are respected and due process is followed.

More information on Indigenous Opportunities within Cliffs APIO is available. 

Environmental Stewardship

We are actively engaged in innovative projects and programs that will enhance our environmental performance while stimulating economic growth and community development – a positive outcome for Cliffs, our customers and local communities that reflects the essence of sustainability.

Cliffs environmental staff consult and communicate formally through a number of forums, meetings and committees. A notable example is the Koolyanobbing Operation’s Community Reference Group (CRG), a committee formed under a Ministerial requirement as a condition of our mining approval for Koolyanobbing and Windarling / Mt. Jackson operations. The CRG provides a forum for the company to share information relating to mining proposals and the management of environmental issues.

More information on Cliffs Asia Pacific's Environmental Stewardship is available.

Summary

Cliffs Natural Resources will continue to work collaboratively with local communities and regulators to establish relationships and support activities that are of benefit to the communities in which the company operates.