ARTC has an increasing awareness of the
role we play in the community. The record
investment in rail freight has meant we
are growing the network at a rate not ever
seen before.
The benefits to the community of growing
our capacity to move freight by rail cannot
be underestimated. Fewer trucks on the
roads means fewer emissions and a safer
journey on our nation’s highways and
metropolitan roads.
Yet we also recognise the impacts that
growing our network to help drive the shift
from road to rail has on communities. That
is why, over the last year, we have focused
our efforts on better engaging with the
community who live alongside the railway
and are affected by our projects.
Of particular focus has been our
relationships with communities in the
Hunter Valley, as we work to grow the coal
rail network for our customers.
Key projects like the Hunter 8 Alliance’s
Minimbah to Muswellbrook third track has
involved extensive community engagement
in order to help manage the impact that
the construction of the project has on the
community. The Alliance has worked hard to
ensure a high level of consultation; holding
community forums, notifying residents of
project activities and visiting residents to
discuss issues, questions or complaints. The
Alliance has a dedicated 1800 community
line, a project website and distributes
external newsletters on a quarterly basis to
around 800 stakeholders.
COMMUNITY
INVOLVEMENT
So far during the life of the project,
barbeque fundraisers have supported two
schools and a pre-school with the supply
of equipment,as well as support for the
Kidney Car Rally.
Also in the Hunter Valley, the annual social
club charity ball raised over $94,000 to
support the Miracle Babies foundation, an
organisation providing support to parents of
premature babies.
In the Adelaide Hills in South Australia,
we have been working hard to keep the
community informed during the planning
and construction of the Ambleside Crossing
Loop. As a result of engagement with the
community during the planning phase, a
number of important design changes were
made to minimise the project’s impact
on the area. The position of the track was
altered to avoid the construction of the
loop affecting a local heritage building
and an access track incorporated into the
design to provide for ongoing emergency
and maintenance access, which was of
particular concern to the community in this
high risk, bushfire-prone area.
Over the last financial year we have
created jobs in key regional areas as a
result of major upgrade projects. Over the
2012-13 year we look forward to continuing
this support of local economies and
communities and are aiming to develop
ways we can add value to country areas
even more.
THE CORPORATION TAKES GREAT
PRIDE IN BEING ABLE TO GENERATE
EMPLOYMENT IN REGIONAL
COMMUNITIES AS A RESULT OF THE
RECORD INVESTMENT IN THE NATION’S
FREIGHT NETWORK.
CORPORATE
RESPONSIBILITY
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