Community

Local community support

Tahmoor Coking Coal is committed to delivering positive and lasting social and economic benefits in the regions where we operate. We have a comprehensive Community Investment Program, which helps to support a range of organisations delivering services and initiatives in key investment areas of:

  • Health
  • Environment
  • Capacity building, including education/training, enterprise development and economic diversity
  • Additional needs identified in community planning at a local or regional level.

To apply for a grant please complete the Community Investment Program application form and email back to tahmoorenquiries@simecgfg.com.

Tahmoor Coking Coal also provides support for a wide range of initiatives across the local community, including:

  • Thirlmere Festival of Steam
  • Illuminate Wollondilly Festival of Art & Light
  • Wollondilly Beach Bus
  • Australian Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Feathered Friends
  • Wollondilly Women in Excellence Awards
  • Tharawal Local Aboriginal Land Council NAIDOC Fun Day
  • Bargo Mens Shed
  • Wollondilly Anglican College Country Fair
  • Born to Ride Freestyle
  • Wollondilly Heritage Centre and Museum
  • Community Links Wellbeing
  • Local schools and organisations

Partnering with communities

Tahmoor Coking Coal is passionate about supporting and building meaningful relationships in the communities where we operate. We actively engage with stakeholders to understand their interests and aspirations and identify opportunities to work together to create shared value.

Thirlmere Festival of Steam

The Thirlmere Festival of Steam is a family community event which we believe helps develop economic growth throughout the Wollondilly area.

This event provides a great day in the community, where families are the core and fundamental pillars of society.

We have proudly sponsored this fantastic festival for over 10 years.

Tharawal Local Aboriginal Land Council NAIDOC Fun Day

 

Each year Tharawal LALC hosts a NAIDOC community fun day which continues to grow every year.

This event is not only open to the local Aboriginal communities, but the wider community as well.

The event focuses on providing a range of cultural activities to strengthen the community’s resilience and supporting and securing positive change within our local community.

Tahmoor Coking Coal is an ongoing sponsor of this great event.

Illuminate Wollondilly – Festival of Art & Light

Illuminate Wollondilly is an award-winning event that invigorates and unites the community through local art, music, dance, food, retail experiences and family-friendly fun.

As night falls, the Picton landmark buildings come to life with awe-inspiring light projections from emerging and established local artists. Lantern displays and spectacular fireworks light up the town for all to enjoy.

This community event attracts thousands of local residents and tourists from other parts of Wollondilly, Macarthur, Wollongong, Sydney and surrounding areas.

We are proud supporters of such a fun-filled cultural event.

Australian Wildlife Sanctuary WILD Rover

Tahmoor Coking Coal is a proud supporter of our neighbours at the Australian Wildlife Sanctuary who make a difference to the community we live in.

We partnered with the Sanctuary to deliver the WILD Rover, a mobile education van used to attend schools, events and at times transport suitable animal species including mammals, reptiles, and mini beasts.

The WILD Rover presentations encourages students to engage and learn about Australian wildlife including diet, habits, protection and adaptions.

The WILD Rover also assists with wildlife rescue, partnering with local veterinarians and wildlife rehabilitation groups.

Visit the Australian Wildlife Sanctuary website

Wollondilly Heritage Centre and Museum

The Wollondilly Heritage Centre and Museum is a repository for archives, records and objects relating to the early development of the villages in Wollondilly Shire.

Exhibitions on display incorporate these objects and include the stories of the early pioneers and how they shaped life in our local area. Included in the collection are extensive photographic records, family history and local history; along with specialised collections such as Burragorang, Yerranderie, coal mining and indigenous history of the Gundungurra people.

The Museum provides a place for the community to come and attend training, learn and share experiences and knowledge. Tahmoor Coking Coal has been a long-time supporter of the Wollondilly Heritage Centre and Museum and has recently assisted with a grant to upgrade the BBQ area.

Community Investment Program

Tahmoor Coking Coal is committed to creating shared value and making a positive contribution to the quality of life of the communities and regions where we operate. Tahmoor Coking Coal’s Community Investment Program (CIP) is committed to making contributions towards sustainable development of the local area surrounding our operations.

Application and guidelines form

Volunteering

From underground to above ground, SIMEC Mining’s Tahmoor Coking Coal workforce has been supporting the Wollondilly community.

During Tahmoor Coking Coal’s annual Mine Maintenance Shutdown in 2024, 38 members of the mine’s underground staff were out and about in the Wollondilly region to complete projects requested by local organisations.

Eight organisations including Tahmoor Uniting Community Garden, The Oaks Historical Society and Tahmoor Riding for the Disabled Association saw their projects completed over a two-day period in February.

One of the largest projects was the construction of a 30x20m mesh vegetable garden cover including full irrigation at the Tahmoor Uniting Community Garden.

The community garden is a volunteer-run project apart of the Church’s community outreach program which aims to involve Wollondilly locals outside of the church in community programs. The vegetables from the garden are sold at the local church markets every second Saturday of the month. The garden is also open to the public every Monday and Friday to purchase vegetables; any leftovers are donated to Wollondilly Anglican College who use the home-grown veggies to cook meals for those in need or in crisis situations.

Judith Wilson, garden Coordinator, expressed her appreciation for the hard work while explaining what it means for the non-profit organisation.

“It’s been great having the mine here, the work means we can grow our vegetables under the cover without cabbage moth, it’s great,” Judith said.

Graduate Mining Engineer, Abood Alshafee, who assisted at the garden project as well as maintenance at the Dingo Sanctuary in Bargo, enjoyed the experience of giving back to his community.

“It was a good opportunity to give back to our community and connect with the local area more,” Abood said.

“It was nice to see our work have such a positive effect on local organisations.”

Another volunteer, mine operator Daniel D’Aran agreed.

“It’s been great working for the community while the mine is shutdown, it gives us a chance to get out here and help where we can,” Daniel said.

Informed and consulted

The Tahmoor Colliery Community Consultative Committee (TCCCC) provides a forum for open discussion between representatives of Tahmoor Coal Mine, the community, council and other stakeholders on issues directly relating to the mine’s operations, environmental performance and community relations.

The TCCCC is independently chaired and membership consists of up to seven representatives from the local area, who meet on a quarterly basis. The current list of members is provided below should you wish to make contact.

Michael Muston Independent Chair qem@1earth.net
James Johnston Community Representative (Bargo) johnsons170@bigpond.com
Nicole Pearce Community Representative (Bargo) onestopworkshop@hotmail.com
Karen Moss Community Representative (Bargo) karenmoss64@icloud.com
Wayne Southwell Community Representative (Bargo) southy562@tpg.com.au
Bob Clayton Community Representative (Tahmoor) rcla1919@bigpond.net.au
Col Mitchell Community Representative (Picton) col.mitchell194@gmail.com
David Henry Wollondilly Shire Council Representative david.henry@wollondilly.nsw.gov.au
Paul Rogers Wollondilly Shire Councillor Representative paul.rogers@wollondilly.nsw.gov.au

 

Tahmoor Coal Community Consultative Committee meeting agendas and minutes