The first three of five new Hunter Valley Operation’s (HVO) partnership mining trucks have started work at the site – and for local charities.
The vehicles’ trays were painted in the colours of the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service (WRHS), Hunter Prostate Cancer Alliance and Hunter Breast Cancer Foundation.
The organisations will get an agreed donation for every load the trucks haul, paid annually, plus funds from other events throughout the year.
The two other vehicles, due to arrive on site by the end of the year, will each support a different charity.
HVO general manager Tony Morris joined Upper Hunter MP Dave Layzell, WRHS Upper Hunter community liaison officer Danny Eather, Hunter Breast Cancer Foundation CEO Abbey McDonell, Hunter Prostate Cancer Alliance CEO Alex Sovechles and HVO staff to unveil the trucks at HVO North mine.
He said the Hunter-based groups were chosen because they made a positive difference to the health and welfare of HVO employees, their families and the community.
“We wanted to extend our charity and community assistance in a meaningful way,” he explained.
“Better aligning operations and community support are part of HVO’s new pillars and values of thinking sharp, digging in and caring.
“We want to build partnerships with each charity that includes sharing information about their services with our workforce and undertaking other fundraising and activities for them throughout the year.
“While Hunter Breast Cancer Foundation and Hunter Prostate Cancer Alliance are new partners, we’ve had a 20-year relationship with the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service.
“Largely through workplace giving by our generous employees, HVO has provided $1.1 million over that time to help the service to save lives of Hunter people.”
Mr Morris said the new trucks were part of a $500 million investment HVO was making in capital equipment over five years to improve efficiency and provide staff with the right tools to get the job done.
“They’re more fuel efficient, have a larger capacity, are quieter and provide better amenity for operators than the older fleet,” he added.
“We’re bringing nine new trucks online in 2022 with five more arriving next year.
“Six excavators arrived in 2022 with two more landing in 2023.
“We’ll have four new motor graders by the end of the year and 11 dozers will arrive in the future.
“Over the five years, we’re bringing in other new equipment, technology and systems as part of a $2 billion overall investment.”
He said while the machines were important to the business, the investment reflected HVO’s long-term commitment to the region, jobs, and local communities.
“Modern equipment reduces our impacts in relation to noise and fuel use, which is good news for the operation, our people, residents and the environment,” he stated.
HVO will continue to provide community grants twice a year to charities specifically operating in the Singleton and Muswellbrook LGAs and support other charities and community initiatives.
It has had moustaches on two trucks during Movember to raise awareness about and funds for men’s health.
Coffee carts at HVO events and a hard hat sticker campaign recently raised $10,000 for the Mark Hughes Foundation.
For more community stories:
- HVO teams build toys for Hunter kids in need
- Dog Rescue Newcastle has a Christmas wish
- Four-legged friend to change life of Newcastle resident
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