Boral is offering unlimited paid leave to employees responding to the bushfire crisis as its quarries across the country work to support fire-stricken areas.
The construction materials producer has multiple people across its business aiding communities affected by the disaster that has caused widespread destruction across the nation, particularly in New South Wales and Victoria, this bushfire season.
Twenty-seven people have died so far, and more than 2100 homes have been destroyed. Many more properties have suffered partial damage.
A Boral spokeswoman told Quarry that staff were supporting the most recent firefighting efforts by supplying water carts, equipment and water stored at its quarries.
In early January, Boral water trucks were also brought in to help farmers, National Parks and the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) to tackle fires in the Snowy Mountains region.
“We have a number of employees across Australia who are volunteering through regional services,” the spokesperson said. “Boral are offering them unlimited paid leave while they support their local communities.”
In other areas, the company is supporting the Red Cross in its efforts to help bushfire affected communities.
Boral is also working with long-term community partner Conservation Volunteers Australia to help rebuild fire-devastated habitats.
“We are proud of our people who have provided significant acts of kindness and community support,” the spokesperson said. “Our thoughts are with everyone who has been impacted by these tragic fires.”
Committed to communities
This isn’t the first time Boral’s quarries have played a role in the bushfire response in recent months.
In November, holding dams at the company’s John Rivers Quarry, 45km south of Port Macquarie, provided a crucial water source to protect its nearby community for several days.
In total, the quarry supplied 150,000 litres to the RFS, some of which was transported in its own water cart.
In Wingham, 50km southwest of Johns River, Boral asphalt production technician Owen Harper and his wife Taycee-Lea Jones also lead efforts to protect their community.
Harper used his own ute and trailer to cart water and a petrol pump to RFS stations, as well as fire trucks on the front line. He took to Facebook, encouraging others to join him.
Eventually 147,000 litres of water was transported to firefighters, an act he believed saved numerous properties.
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