$750,000 TOWARDS BETTER HEALTH IN WANDOAN

Xstrata Coal Queensland and the Queensland Government have announced a partnership through which Xstrata Coal will invest $750,000 over three years to improve medical and allied health facilities in the southern inland mining town of Wandoan.

Minister for Health, Stephen Robertson, said the partnership was an innovative use of corporate social investment to grow public and private health services in the region.

The funds will improve general practice and allied health services in the town, which sits atop the mineral-rich Surat basin. It will go towards refurbishing the building to make it more attractive to visiting doctors and other health professionals.

“Country Queenslanders value good general practice services in their own town and this partnership should attract more private GP hours to Wandoan and the space for extra community health clinical services at the Wandoan Outpatients Clinic,” Mr Robertson said.

“Increases in primary health care take pressure off our hospitals and reduce the need for patients to travel for simple but important health care.”

Queensland Health has proposed a renovation of existing clinical service delivery and staff accommodation at Wandoan as part of the joint investment.

“Because this initiative potentially delivers more and better health care and improves the working environment for staff, it ticks all of the boxes in growing our health system, reducing strain on our hospitals and retaining good clinical staff in our country health services.

“It will also create local jobs by using local tradespeople and other workers in the rebuilding of the primary health care centre and building of new staff accommodation.”

“We know mining communities have been hit hard by the current economic climate and that’s why I have asked Queensland Health to work with Xstrata to get this project underway as soon as possible.” Mr Robertson said.

Xstrata Coal General Manager Southern Region, Bill McKinstrey said his company has committed the funding from its Corporate Social Involvement programme for three years regardless of the outcome of the approval process for its proposed Wandoan Coal Project.

“Throughout our discussions with the local community, it is clear that increasing general practice services and outpatient services, are priorities for the people of Wandoan.” Mr McKinstrey said.

“We are happy to work in partnership with health providers and the community to support the town.”

“We want to support existing public programmes and add our own value where we can so that our investment is productive and creates sustainable ongoing benefits for the local community.”

More information:

Xstrata Coal James Rickards 3115 5382/ 0419 731 371

Email: jrickards@xstratacoal.com

Minister Roberston’s Office –Catherine Goldie 3234 1190/ 0417 728 676