Holcim has continued strengthening its presence in local communities, providing building materials for projects serving disabled children and bushfire-affected areas.
A Holcim-owned quarry in Tynong, Victoria donated topping material to the Garfield North Outdoor Education Centre, which required a refurbishment of its sensory garden, according to Tynong quarry manager Ben Appleby.
“Holcim donated a few loads of Tynong toppings and attended a working bee with other local community organisations, Friends of Mt Cannibal and Cannibal Creek Catchment Landcare Group, to lay the topping and plant groundcover to replace vegetation burnt out during the 2019 bushfires,” Appleby said.
A spokesperson for Holcim stated that the company undertakes a great number of similar engagements, in mutual support of local communities.
“Reflective of the hundreds of communities in which we work, every year we support more than 100 community engagement activities,” the spokesperson stated.
“With close to 300 sites operating across Australia and New Zealand, contributing to the many communities in which we live and work is incredibly important to Holcim.
“We support a diverse range of activities – from volunteering at the local river clean up in Werribee (Victoria), to helping raise funds for charities in Albion Park (NSW). Holcim has a guiding principle to actively participate in creating strong, healthy communities that we can all be proud of.”
Albion Park Concrete was recognised by the Hotondo Helping Hands initiative for donating more than $8000 worth of Geostone to build driveways.
Julian Borg, Holcim’s concrete area manager for the ACT and southern New South Wales, said it was an easy choice to get involved with Hotondo Homes’ initiative, which raised more than $400,000 for charity.
“Our region was severely affected by the bushfires. As a team we were considering various ways to assist,” Borg said. “When Hotondo approached us, we were honoured to be able to offer our services and play a small part in helping those who help our community.”
Holcim’s spokesperson emphasised that none of these projects were conceived by Holcim but the company was ready and willing to do whatever it could in support.
“The nature of our business means that these community projects are super localised. While support requests often come via different channels, they are usually not Holcim-led,” the spokesperson stated.
“However, we are selective with who and what we provide our support to, to ensure the projects we support align with our company values and the communities in which we operate.”