MRM mobilises residential workforce to help out with Borroloola community projects
THE McArthur River Mine (MRM) is activating its local mine resident workforce, putting together crews to carry out projects to benefit community groups while remote restrictions are in place during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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THE McArthur River Mine (MRM) is activating its local mine resident workforce, putting together crews to carry out projects to benefit community groups while remote restrictions are in place during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The mine and local organisations have identified community projects to be undertaken by the 28 MRM local staff who have been sent home to Borroloola and surrounds on special paid leave during the current crisis.
The mine sent the local workers home in mid-March before restrictions came into place for designated remote areas as part of its safety plan to ensure zero contact between the mine and the local community.
Most of the local mine workers live in Borroloola, 65km from the mine site.
MRM general manager Steven Rooney said the local mine workers had great skills that could be put to use in the community.
He said the company understood the threat of coronavirus to remote communities and protecting their health was one of the first measures it put in place.
“We didn’t wait until restrictions were put in place to make this decision,” he said.
“We took the proactive decision to send people home because we know how devastating it would be should coronavirus reach the local area.”
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Mr Rooney said that several local MRM employees were already out working in the community.
“One of our team members has spent two weeks helping to build an ablution block at a local outstation to cater for people returning to country,” he said.
“Another has been working with the Aboriginal Corporation in his local community, while others have been doing maintenance work at their home outstations.
“I’m proud of the way our people have already put their hands up to help.
“We’re now mobilising organised work crews who can do more.”
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Deploying its local resident workforce to work in community is just one of many measures the mine has put in place to manage the health of its people and the community during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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