Talison announces more than $2 million for projects in Shire of Bridgetown-Greenbushes in inaugural round of new Community Investment Program

The Community Investment Program (CIP) will provide funding for larger, or longer-term projects, that align with the needs and aspirations of communities surrounding the Greenbushes Lithium Operation (Mine).

A number of projects in the Shire of Bridgetown-Greenbushes will be funded in the inaugural round including a partnership with the Shire of Bridgetown Greenbushes for future focused community projects, a Geegeelup Vision Partnership and a Greenbushes RSL Hall Restoration Partnership.

The partnership with the Shire is for $1.6 million and will bring improvements to the Greenbushes townscape and roads, recreation facilities in Greenbushes and Bridgetown and initiatives to bring carbon neutral benefits to Bridgetown Leisure Centre, Library and Civic Centre.

The proposed improvements include:

• a concept plan for Greenbushes Footpath Upgrade and Tree Root Management Plan;

• asphalt overlay for nine (9) streets within the Town of Greenbushes;

• installation of lights at the Greenbushes Sports Complex;

• installation of fans in all courts at Bridgetown Leisure Centre;

• purchase of inflatable obstacle course for Bridgetown swimming pool:

• installation of automated pool blankets for the Bridgetown swimming pool;

• a one-third contribution to cost of Bridgetown Sports Ground works including oval and lighting upgrade and carpark seal; and

• Planning (design and costings) to install solar panels and batteries to make the Bridgetown Leisure Centre, Library and Civic Centre energy neutral equivalent.

The partnership with Geegeelup Village Incorporated (Geegeelup Vision Partnership) will provide $200,000 for groundworks to enable construction of more homes for seniors in the Geegeelup Village complex enhancing opportunities for local residents to remain in their own community as they age. The funding will primarily be used for earthworks and installation of services to enable Geegeelup Incorporated to install four new units on Allnutt Street, Bridgetown.

The historic Greenbushes RSL building will also be given a $190,000 make-over in a community driven project that will improve facilities for the community while enhancing the building’s street frontage. Works will include removal of asbestos cladding, re-stumping and renovation of the kitchen.

Craig Dawson, Talison’s General Manager – Operations, said the CIP was designed to provide larger funding opportunities to deliver strategic programs and projects to build social capital and local ownership by engaging multiple stakeholders including, but not necessarily limited to, community groups, local government, education and training providers, Indigenous organisations and not for profit organisations.

“Talison is looking to support projects that are a high priority for local communities and consistent with the development priorities of local government,” said Mr Dawson.

“We have been engaging with local governments and community organisations over the past few months to identify projects that will add value to our communities across a broad range of categories.”

Shire of Bridgetown-Greenbushes Chief Executive Officer Tim Clynch welcomed the partnership.

“This partnership is in addition to the Shire’s usual capital works program which will still be delivered as per our budget, so it really has provided a boost that will enable Council to respond to community driven projects in a timely manner,” said Mr Clynch.

Shire of Bridgetown-Greenbushes President Jenny Mountford said the Council has been working towards a partnership with Talison for some time.

“We are now delighted to see the formalising and commencement of this momentous partnership. The community of Greenbushes in particular will benefit from some important works with this significant allocation from Talison this year. We are looking forward to ongoing collaboration via the Partnering for the Future program with further projects in coming years,” said Ms Mountford.

Geegelup Village Incorporated Manager Sean Mahoney said “The Talison investment in facilities for our elders will be used to support Geegeelup’s vision to grow and provide more opportunities for residents to age in their own community and the impact of this support is life changing.”

Greenbushes RSL President Trevor Bottomley said his organization was pleased to have been supported in the inaugural round of Talison’s CIP.

“The RSL members have been fundraising for many years to kick start the project, and now, with the generous support of Talison we have the opportunity to give the premises a new lease of life,” said Mr Bottomley.

“It is a historical building which has withstood many changes in the community over the years and with this refurbishment will be able to stand proudly in the main street of Greenbushes for many years to come”. 

The four pillars of Talison’s CIP are Quality Education, Sustainable Environments and Biodiversity Improvement, Health and Wellbeing, and Vibrant and Sustaining communities.

For enquires contact GBContact@talisonlithium.com

Detailed Feasibility Study into recommissioning of Greenbushes to Bunbury Railway

The State Government in conjunction with Talison, the South West Development Commission (SWDC), Arc Infrastructure (Arc) and Aurizon Limited (Aurizon) announced during July the commencement of a Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) into the recommissioning of the Greenbushes to Bunbury railway line for the transportation of spodumene concentrate from the Mine to its domestic customers in Western Australia (WA) and the Port of Bunbury for export.

The DFS will be a collaboration between the State Government (by means of the SWDC), Talison, Arc and Aurizon. A significant component of the study will be to engage with stakeholders to determine the social impacts.

Talison Lithium CEO Lorry Mignacca said the study will be very important given over the next five years, the amount of lithium mineral concentrate transported by road from Greenbushes is projected to reach 2.1 million tonnes a year, which will significantly increase truck movements along the South West Highway.

“Talison Lithium is proud to be leading this work and looks forward to close engagement with its rail industry partners, Government, and most importantly the communities along the railway line,” said Mr Mignacca.

“We are committed to undertaking this study and are hopeful the results of the study will lead to decisions late next year to recommission the Greenbushes to Bunbury railway line which would take our product off the roads and assist with all our decarbonisation efforts.”

The initial round of community consultation sessions is planned to begin in early August 2023. 

For enquiries about the DFS please contact info@talisonrail.com or call 1800418581.

Talison and Blackwood Youth Action Group Sign Partnership to Support Youth Mental Health Services

Talison Lithium has signed a three- year partnership with Blackwood Youth Action Group to help deliver critical services to support the wellbeing of young people across the Warren-Blackwood District.

The $600,000 partnership, with potential for a further two-year extension, will enable the Blackwood Youth Action Group to deliver targeted mental health education and awareness programmes, early intervention strategies and treatment for young people aged 12 to 25 years across the local government areas of Bridgetown-Greenbushes, Manjimup, Boyup Brook and Nannup.

The BYA Pyramid Program is a four-level wrap-around approach to youth mental health, breaking down stigmas and providing support for young people in need.

In signing the Partnership agreement with BYA on Friday 5 May, Talison Lithium Chief Executive Officer, Lorry Mignacca, said Talison recognized the importance of building resilience in young people and providing opportunities for the future.

"We are proud to be partnering with the Blackwood Youth Action Group to increase mental health support services for young people in the Warren Blackwood region,” he said.

“Supporting the BYA also means supporting our workforce, their families, and the well-being of people in the communities surrounding the Greenbushes Lithium Operation," said Mr Mignacca.

"As we seek to expand our operations and recruit the workforce necessary to continue supplying the world with the raw materials required for the clean energy transition, we are keenly aware that young people in our region are our future."

BYA Chairperson Sarah Youngson said the partnership between BYA and Talison was important for BYA to be able to continue to run their programs and facilities.

“It is impossible to quantify the value for BYA and community of this partnership with Talison,” she said.

“Talison’s support means BYA is able to continue to provide mental health education and support for young people across the Warren Blackwood region and we are extremely excited about this partnership and what it will deliver to our future generations.”

The BYA partnership is part of Talison’s overall community investment strategy which includes a Sponsorships and Donations Programme providing cash and in-kind donations for community groups and organisations and education scholarships for schools in the Warren-Blackwood Education District.

FORMER GREENBUSHES EXPLORATION MANAGER MIKE HATCHER VISITS TALISON

Mike Hatcher, who was instrumental in championing the exploration of the Greenbushes lithium mineral deposit recently made his first visit to the mine in more than four decades.

Mr Hatcher, who now lives in Adelaide, began working at Greenbushes in 1976 when the primary minerals produced were tin and tantalum. However, after returning from a sponsored tour of Canada's Tanco operations in 1980, he pushed for the exploration and development of the Greenbushes spodumene deposit.

At the time there was a decline in the price of tantalum, and it seemed logical to develop the third important mineral found in the Greenbushes pegmatite – spodumene. Mr. Hatcher co-wrote three important papers on the Greenbushes lithium deposit, which were published in 1982, 1986, and 1990.

In 1983 a company called Lithium Australia was formed in Greenbushes, and that same year the Greenbushes mine became the first in Australia to produce and export lithium. Talison's Greenbushes Lithium Operation has been leading in lithium ever since, continuously innovating in the production and processing of spodumene, while also being instrumental in establishing global export markets for lithium products throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Today Talison plays a critical role in helping supply the lithium mineral concentrate needed to facilitate the global transition to clean energy.

Mr. Hatcher left Greenbushes in 1983, and his recent site visit was an interesting trip down memory lane, allowing him to see first-hand what he had helped begin all those years ago.

Pictured: Mike Hatcher with Talison Geology Superintendent Daryl Baker.

Regions Rising 2023: Keynote address on Jobs and Skills

Craig Dawson, General Manager of Operations at Talison, delivered the keynote address on Jobs and Skills at the Regions Rising conference in Bunbury on March 10, 2023.

The Regions Rising event series serves as an essential platform for bringing together industry experts, economists, regional leaders, government officials, political leaders, academics, and community sector representatives to discuss the critical factors affecting regional communities.

The address highlighted Talison's position as the leading lithium producer and emphasized how its impacts extend beyond just contributing to the clean energy transition. Talison's operations also provide significant funds to Federal, State, local governments and local communities.

There was discussion on the challenging skills and labour environment Talison faces as it tries to expand its workforce, along with the strategies Talison is implementing to overcome these obstacles.

Mr Dawson shared that despite the high demand for workers in the mining industry, Talison is striving to become more sustainable in the recruitment of its workforce by trying to maintain the balance between hiring locally and ensuring the community's liveability.

He also spoke about initiatives such as the annual Trainee and Apprenticeship programs which have become an important entry pathway into mining in the region, and Talison's partnership with the Chamber of Minerals and Energy WA on their curriculum-linked Digital Technologies Program, which helps provide students in the Warren Blackwood Region with the skills they need for the jobs of the future, starting in pre-primary and continuing through their senior school years.

Mr Dawson concluded his address by stating "While the global transition to cleaner energy relies on the lithium we mine, we rely on the people who make that possible."