Community Report 2015 Cover Photo Courtesy of Daniel Danuser General Manager’S Message
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Kooragang Island Community Report 2015 Cover photo courtesy of Daniel Danuser General Manager’s Message Welcome to our inaugural Community Report. The purpose of this report is to provide you with a summary of Orica Kooragang Island’s operations and achievements over the last 12 months. We reached some significant milestones including gaining approval to install three ammonia flaring Scott Reid systems, which will capture and burn off unplanned General Manager ammonia emissions. We also switched the majority of the Orica Kooragang Island site to recycled water, a move that will save the Hunter Region up to 2.3 billion litres of drinking water a year. During 2014 we continued to develop our relationship with the community through our many engagement activities, including Community Reference Group meetings, site tours and attendance at local events. In addition, we supported numerous Newcastle-based groups to deliver a diverse range of projects through our Community Investment Program and other sponsorship opportunities. Last July Orica Kooragang Island was fined $733,250 for six incidents that took place between October 2010 and December 2011. Orica deeply regrets what happened but it has served as a catalyst for real change in the way we operate. I believe much progress has been made since those incidents occurred. There is still more to be done and we will maintain our commitment to continuous improvement. Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you, our community, for being part of our journey and I assure you we will continue to work hard to meet your expectations. Students from a local high school touring the ammonia plant as part of the HSC Chemistry Program. Every community we touch can expect certain things from us including good compliance with regulation and legislation and very significantly, being a valued and responsible member of the community. This is fundamental to the way that we go about our business. Community Engagement Investment Orica Kooragang Island (KI) is committed to effective Community investment and sponsorship activities and targeted stakeholder engagement, which is are a central pillar of our engagement approach. essential to maintaining the trust and support of our Through our Community Investment Program we neighbours and the broader community. support a range of projects that promote education and We work with the community to understand the lifelong learning, improve and protect the environment, needs, concerns and aspirations of individuals and and build strong communities. In 2014 we provided organisations. In 2014 the KI site carried out a number $123,650 in grant funding to 15 community groups. of activities including: As well as providing funds through the Community • the production and distribution of a bi-monthly Investment Program, we also invested $95,704 community newsletter delivered to residents in sponsoring a range of other events, activities and our neighbouring suburbs of Stockton, Carrington, organisations including: Tighes Hill, Mayfield East, Fern Bay and Maryville • Surfest • the publication of a regular Community • Mick Chapman Memorial Criterium Update column in the local press • Harry’s House • regular Community Reference Group (CRG) meetings, a number of which featured independent • Chuck Duck Breakfast Club guest speakers to talk about specific matters • Local sporting clubs. • regular site tours for the general community as well as special interest groups • employee attendance at community events to answer questions and speak to people about our operations • one-on-one conversations with community More than 150 riders stakeholders to help us improve our took part in the 2014 community engagement. Orica Mick Chapman Memorial Criterium, which was held at Newcastle’s Honeysuckle Precinct. Newcastle Museum HSC Chemistry Partnership Program Throughout 2014 Orica partnered with the Newcastle In 2014 more than 200 students from 17 schools Museum to deliver a variety of science-based activities to participated in our HSC Chemistry Program, giving the region’s young people. In January we sponsored the them an opportunity to apply their classroom studies museum’s Summer of Science, a series of ocean-themed to the real world. The program included a practical events attended by more than 1700 people. In August demonstration of Stage 6 key syllabus outcomes around we supported the museum’s National Science Week the manufacturing of ammonia and employment program, enabling a portable planetarium to be taken to opportunities in the chemical industry. Students went on local schools so that around 800 students could explore a guided site tour, attended a presentation by a process the wonders of the night sky. We also funded a new engineer and talked with recent university graduates As a science and electronic exhibit at the museum – a clock that displays working at the facility. and continually updates a wide range of global statistics. technology-based business, Our ammonia plant is the only one in the south east we think it’s crucial to region of Australia, placing us in a unique position to nurture the next generation give students in the Hunter a first-hand look at the of engineers, scientists and ammonia manufacturing process. researchers to help ensure the sustainability of both our operations and industry more broadly. Community Investment Program Case Studies Tantrum Youth Arts Stockton Surf Life Saving Club Newcastle Hunter Dragon Boat Club A $14,500 grant supported Tantrum Youth Arts to The club used an $8,000 grant to supply long-sleeve, A $9,700 grant enabled the club to purchase a new perform its first major production of 2014 – Diving off hi-vis rash shirts to around 150 junior members dragon boat for the Dragons Abreast program to the Edge of the World. The innovative, site-specific participating in its Nippers’ program. Foam boards were encourage wellness, fitness, fun and camaraderie among production was staged over four nights at Newcastle also purchased, along with a marquee to provide sun breast cancer survivors. Ocean Baths and featured dozens of inspiring and protection for members during training and carnivals. creative young Novocastrians. The production went Club President Callan Nickerson said: “Orica’s support on to win Best Special Theatrical Event at the City of will help us train juniors to become our future volunteer Newcastle Drama Awards. Tantrum’s Artistic Director life savers, keeping the beach safe.” Amy Hardingham said: “We absolutely could not Applying for a grant with the have done it without the support from Orica Above photo courtesy of Daniel Danuser Kooragang Island.” Community Investment Program Every year two rounds of funding are offered. The first round opens on 1 March and the second round opens on 1 September. Information and documentation is available on our website orica.com/kooragang September 2014 Key Events Kurri Kurri High became the 400th In 2014 we... school in Australia to participate in the Orica-sponsored STELR program, May which provides schools with sent out around January science equipment. Paid Paid We notched up 365 days since our Achieved Employees Contractors The Orica Team Challenge, Surfest’s last recordable injury. 30,000 October $33.7M $16.6M opening event, kicked off at North The annual joint emergency newsletters Conducted Stockton Beach. response exercise was conducted We sponsored the Mick Chapman 601 Memorial Criterium (cycling race) consecutive days We sponsored the Newcastle Museum’s with local emergency services and invested Summer of Science, which attracted other agencies. for the third successive year. Two without a 126 Orica-GreenEDGE riders particpated more than 1,700 visitors. We sponsored the Harry’s House recordable injury occupational $220,000 in the event. Charity Shield match. hygiene tests in community Ownership of the Stockton Air February ) H sponsorships Quality Monitoring Station was % un to help Performed (5 t and grants The $9.1 million ammonia plant June transferred to the NSW Environment er 7M = mid-run turnaround saw more Protection Authority (EPA). $ $ A new four-year Enterprise 4 41 = than maintenance and 2 200 Agreement covering s . 115 103 a 9 beneciaries upgrade jobs completed including e M workers at Orica KI was November periodic health s the replacement of spent catalysts, r e ( approved by the 3 assessments v Spent the inspection and overhaul of The majority of the KI site switched 2 published Fair Work Commission. O % relief valves, and the installation of to using recycled water from Hunter ) new equipment. Water’s new plant at Mayfield. This Had 8 July will save the Hunter Region up to 2.3 Ran $135 community March billion litres of drinking water a year. A MILLION The NSW Land and Environment u update columns 37 s on goods and services Our 2014 HSC Chemistry Program Court fined Orica KI more than t employees r ) 4 a for incidents that took l got underway. $730,000 i % conducted held December involved in the emergency a 5 place between October 2010 and = 4 The annual Orica Kermesse (local cycling ( December 2011. heart health response $ A new General Manager, Scott Reid, 2 M criterium) was held near Kurri Kurri 4 3 6 . 37 was appointed to the site. program exercises . 0 attracting more than 300 riders 7M 6 site tours community $ from across the state. August We joined forces with the Lions Club (1 = reference group 8% SW to provide Christmas hampers Invested Conducted ) N WorkCover undertook its Major 30 meetings April Hazard Facility audit of to local families in need. business with the KI site. We kicked off our program of Approval was received to install three $71M Contributed and supported hosted briefing neighbouring schools, We sponsored National Science flaring systems to prevent the release of in capital works 313 child and aged care facilities Week at the Newcastle Museum, ammonia emissions to the environment local suppliers 311 about our operations and enabling local schools to – part of the multimillion-dollar Ammonia $128M 1,600 visitors emergency response procedures.