During the recent round of presentations at the company’s coal mines, BMA chief executive John Smith reiterated BMA’s longstanding commitment to the towns in which the majority of the company’s employees and families are located.

“The towns’ activities are supported financially by BMA’s annual rate payments, including a special rate, and substantial subsidies paid on services such as water supply,” Smith said.

“These payments are in addition to the significant investment the company is making on new housing, single accommodation apartments and land development, which totalled $210 million for the past three years.”

Central to BMA’s support is its Community Partnerships Program, now in its fourth year of operation.

Around 30 different projects have been delivered in the towns over that period through partnerships with a range of community organisations, not-for-profit groups, and state and local government bodies.

The company said spending under the partnerships program reached around $5 million this year.

“We have introduced a further element to the program following a survey of employees and family members, where some core priorities were identified in the towns of Moranbah, Dysart and Blackwater,” Smith said.

“We are using the responses to the survey to guide the future development of our Community Partnerships Program, with the aim of further enhancing the towns for our employees and their families.

“As a key part of this, we are in the process of setting up community reference groups to consider and advise on how best to respond to the survey’s findings.”

One major project already on the drawing board is the Dysart Multi-Sport Centre, which is proposed to be funded by BMA, the State and Federal governments and the Dysart community.

Another in the process of being implemented is the $9.5 million Blackwater International Coal Centre project, which also brings state and federal government funding together with a major contribution from BMA and sponsorships from a range of other coal producers and service providers to the industry.

“These projects herald an exciting new stage in our Community Partnerships Program that will further improve the lifestyle in our communities,” Smith said.