The major mining companies operating in the Hunter Valley have thrown their support behind next year’s Hunter Coal Festival.
Owned and managed by the Singleton Business Chamber, the Hunter Coal Festival 2015 is a two-week festival from March 12-29, to celebrate the role and contribution of the mining industry to the Hunter Valley community.
To be held across Singleton, Muswellbrook and surrounding regions, the festival aims to highlight the value of the coal industry to the Hunter region and the broader Australian community.
It has been developed by the Singleton Business Chamber, with support from Singleton Council, Muswellbrook Shire Council and Muswellbrook Chamber of Commerce and Industry
In addition to attracting significant sponsorship from the NSW Minerals Council, all the major mining companies active in the region have announced their support for the festival.
Mining companies supporting the Festival include:
- Anglo American
- BHP Billiton’s Mount Arthur Coal
- The Bloomfield Group’s Rix’s Creek
- Coal & Allied, managed by Rio Tinto Coal Australia
- Glencore.
Anglo American’s Matt Frodsham, who represents the mining houses in working with the Hunter Coal Festival, said the event would highlight the strong community contribution that coal mining made to the region.
“These miners supporting the Festival are responsible for the vast bulk of coal mining in the Upper Hunter; we are very much a part of the communities in which we operate, and we are all very happy to be involved in this event,” said Mr Frodsham.
“We depend on the region’s community for our workforces, and local businesses and suppliers play a key role in ensuring the success of our operations.
“An event such as the Hunter Coal Festival will highlight the contribution of the industry to the region – and the part the region plays in the success and history of mining here in the Hunter.”
Mr Frodsham said the support from the mining houses for the Festival would take many different forms, including sponsorships, providing resources to assist with managing and running various elements, and encouraging staff participation in Festival events.
“All the region’s mining houses are looking forward to a very successful Hunter Coal Festival, which shows how the industry and community can really work together,” he said.
For further information, please visit the Festival website at www.huntercoalfestival.com.au.
For more information please contact Peter Eason – Hunter Coal Festival chair on 0427 712 613