Yunaga landcare has greening influence at Mount Pleasant

Coal & Allied's Mount Pleasant project has received support from a local Indigenous business that welcomes the employment opportunities the site will bring.

Yunaga Mine Services has started tree planting and fencing on the Mount Pleasant project site to create a visual buffer between the town of Muswellbrook and the proposed mine.

Tree screening is important to the current feasibility study and Coal & Allied is committed to commencing effective landcare management long before a decision is made on the project.

Yunaga Mine Services has an extensive history of landcare management in the Hunter Valley and Co-Director Laurie Perry is proud of his links to the site as a member of the Wonnarua people, the Traditional Owners of the land.

"We currently have four local Aboriginal People working on this project and with help from Coal & Allied's Aboriginal Development Consultative Committee there is even more potential to expand it into the future," Mr Perry said.

"This project is a positive step towards more Aboriginal employment in the mining industry.

"I am passionate about landcare in the Hunter Valley and I have been very happy to be involved with this work."

The partnership between Yunaga and Coal & Allied comes as a suitable match, with Coal & Allied committed to working with the local community, which it has been part of for more than 150 years.

"Coal & Allied is committed to both local employment and supporting indigenous employment directly and indirectly," Coal & Allied Landcare Specialist Brian Medhurst said.

"Through this work Coal & Allied is demonstrating we are aware of how close the proposed mine is to the town of Muswellbrook, but we are prepared to take measures to minimise impact on the community."