Talison invests $2.254 million in Bridgetown-Greenbushes through 2024 Partnering for the Future Program

Talison Lithium Pty Ltd (Talison) and the Shire of Bridgetown-Greenbushes (Shire) are proud to announce the projects funded through the 2024 Partnering for the Future program. This collaborative program will see an investment of $2.254 million from Talison aimed at enhancing community infrastructure, civic buildings, recreational areas, and youth spaces.

Working closely with the Shire, Talison has again prioritised the continued delivery of the Greenbushes Transformation Plan specifically to fund enhancements to public amenities, parks, sporting facilities, footpaths, roads and drainage.

Bridgetown will benefit from funds for the installation of air conditioning and state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment in the Bridgetown Town Hall, as well as the development of engaging interpretive displays in the soon to be relocated Bridgetown Visitor Centre, located within the newly restored Bridgetown Railway Station.

Also included is an energy sustainability project which will see the installation of solar panels and batteries on civic buildings in Bridgetown. This project was scoped in the 2023 Partnering for the Future program of works.

Shire President Jenny Mountford welcomed the 2024 funding allocation.

“Council is very happy to see the strong working relationship with Talison Lithium continue to develop,” said Ms Mountford.

“Their contribution to major projects within our Shire is welcomed and appreciated by our organization and the community at large.”

Talison General Manager – Operations, Craig Dawson, said the 2024 partnership would continue to build on the foundations laid by the inaugural Partnering for the Future projects in 2023, bringing more benefits to the communities in Bridgetown and Greenbushes.

“Talison is committed to operating in a responsible and sustainable manner and critical to this commitment is working with the communities surrounding our Greenbushes Lithium Operation,” said Mr Dawson.

“Talison is pleased to be able to provide support to the Shire to deliver these initiatives which will benefit a broad cross section of our community,” he said.

Projects approved for 2024 are:

• continuation of the Greenbushes Drainage Plan (including test drilling);

• reconstruction of four streets and five footpaths within Greenbushes townsite;

• installation of approximately one (1) kilometre of kerbing in the town area;

• Jephson Street Streetscape Plan – design for improvement to drainage and tree health between Stanifer and Collins Streets;

• general renovations and installation of additional ablutions at the Blackwood Road public toilets in the Greenbushes Central Business District (CBD);

• funding contribution towards the Greenbushes Pump Track adjacent to the newly installed Greenbushes Youth Precinct Skate Park at Thomson Park;

• resurfacing of the hard courts and line marking for tennis and basketball along with a dividing fence to separate the tennis and basketball areas at the Greenbushes Sports Complex;

• fit out of the new Visitor Centre at Bridgetown Railway Station;

• installation of solar panels and batteries to the Bridgetown Leisure Centre, Library and Civic Centre (finalisation and delivery of the Concept and Planning Phase delivered in the 2023 Partnering for the Future program); and

• installation of air conditioning and audio visual equipment in the Bridgetown Town Hall.

A component of the funding will be used for Project Management which ensures the Shire has the capacity and resources to deliver the Partnering for the Future 2024 initiatives.

The Partnering for the Future program is funded through the Talison Community Investment Program (CIP), which was introduced in 2023 and provides larger investment opportunities for local government and community organisations to deliver strategic projects across the categories of quality education, sustainable environments and biodiversity improvements, health and wellbeing and vibrant and sustaining communities.

Incorporated not for profit community groups, local government, education and training providers in the Warren-Blackwood area and surrounds that have ideas for projects which may fit the criteria for funding under the Talison CIP are encouraged to contact our Community Team via email: gbcontact@talisonlithium.com.

2023 Mine Open Day

On Saturday, 7th October more than 400 people boarded buses for guided tours of our Greenbushes Lithium Operation, along with hundreds more who stopped by Thomson Park which was transformed into a mini fairground for the day.  The Greenbushes District Hall and Thomson park was filled with family-friendly activities, live music, informative stands, face painting, food trucks, and stalls. The event also showcased impressive machinery displays from our contractors and even featured a truck simulator.

At Talison, we take immense pride in the important role our Greenbushes Lithium Operation plays in the global shift towards cleaner energy. We were delighted to share the significance of what we do with attendees and offer a firsthand glimpse into the work we do each day, particularly in our mining, processing, and environmental areas.

We also took the opportunity to share our growth plans with the community and show how they are designed to meet current and future demands of the global energy transition, and emphasize our ongoing commitment to support the community where we operate. This not only fills us with pride but also opens numerous opportunities for our community. Together, we are shaping a sustainable future, and Greenbushes continues to shine brightly on the global clean energy map.

Thank you to all who attended our 2023 Mine Open Day!

Unveiling Our Inaugural Sustainability Report: Leading in Lithium for a Sustainable Future

Talison are proud to announce the release of its very first Sustainability Report. The 2022 Sustainability Report represents a significant milestone in our management of sustainability practices and performance.

Talison Chief Executive Officer, Lorry Mignacca, believes the Report demonstrates Talison’s unwavering commitment to a more sustainable future.

"We are committed to continuously improving the sustainability of our operations and collaboration with stakeholders as we expand and strive to make a meaningful contribution to environmental preservation, social well-being, and responsible governance,” said Mr Mignacca.

“As the leading producer of lithium in the world for several decades, and with the ability to increase our production further, we believe that the work we do each day contributes to creating a better tomorrow.

“To improve the sustainability of our operations it is critical we mitigate our impact as much as possible through assessment, action and measurement. This process is important so that we can be held accountable for the impacts we have and the actions we take to improve our sustainability.

“This Report is a testament to our values – responsibility, transparency, and a deep sense of purpose. It shares our progress in reducing our environmental footprint, fostering diversity and inclusion, and supporting our local communities. It also sets the stage for future sustainability initiatives as we continue this transformative journey.”

Click here view the 2022 Talison Lithium Sustainability Report.

Talison provides $3 million boost for redevelopment of recreation facilities at Donnybrook’s VC Mitchell Park

Talison is proud to announce the first round of significant community investment in Donnybrook as part of its expanded Community Investment Programme (CIP) approved by the Talison Board of Directors in June.

The first tranche of major projects to be supported by Talison includes $3 million (M) funding for the Donnybrook VC Mitchell Park project. This once in a lifetime project to rejuvenate sport and recreation facilities in Donnybrook will deliver social, health and economic benefits to people in the Shire of Donnybrook Balingup, and the broader South West region.

Talison has been engaging with Local Governments and community groups in recent months to review a number of substantive projects. The Talison funding, coupled with investment from the State Government and local sporting organisations, will support the current $10M plus stage of the VC Mitchell Park Master Plan to refresh ageing community sporting facilities and clubrooms and create a single integrated precinct to meet the varying needs of multiple sporting clubs and community organisations.

Included in the current stage of the Master Plan are upgrades to the existing tennis club pavilion, modifications to the Recreation Centre to accommodate basketball and netball, new passive recreation facilities and amenities, indoor and outdoor events space, lighting, landscaping, pedestrian access, parking, playgrounds and storage areas.

This project will see Government, industry and community work together to create a facility which will become a hub for the wider community and address long term requirements for sports, recreation and social engagement in the Shire of Donnybrook Balingup.

Sport is such an important part of all communities and having a first-class facility at Donnybrook will provide for the needs of the current generation and support growth in the population as the region expands.

Talison is expanding its operations to keep up with demand driven by the global clean energy transition and as Talison grows so too will the benefits that flow into the communities surrounding the Greenbushes Lithium Operation.

The Talison CIP is designed to provide larger funding opportunities to deliver strategic programs and projects to build social capital and local ownership by engaging multiple stakeholders including, but not necessarily limited to, incorporated not for profit community groups, local government, education and training providers.

The four pillars of Talison’s CIP are Quality Education, Sustainable Environments and Biodiversity Improvement, Health and Wellbeing, and Vibrant and Sustaining communities.

Other projects funded through the inaugural round of the CIP include:

• $1.64M to support the Shire of Bridgetown-Greenbushes capital works program

• $0.20M to fund the civil works to support an expansion of Geegeelup Village in Bridgetown; and

• $0.19M to fund a refurbishment of the Greenbushes RSL Hall in Greenbushes.

Incorporated not for profit community groups, local government, education and training providers in the Warren-Blackwood area and surrounds that have ideas for projects which may fit the criteria for funding under the Talison CIP are encouraged to contact our Community Team via email: gbcontact@talisonlithium.com.

Talison announces more than $2 million for projects in Shire of Bridgetown-Greenbushes in inaugural round of new Community Investment Program

The Community Investment Program (CIP) will provide funding for larger, or longer-term projects, that align with the needs and aspirations of communities surrounding the Greenbushes Lithium Operation (Mine).

A number of projects in the Shire of Bridgetown-Greenbushes will be funded in the inaugural round including a partnership with the Shire of Bridgetown Greenbushes for future focused community projects, a Geegeelup Vision Partnership and a Greenbushes RSL Hall Restoration Partnership.

The partnership with the Shire is for $1.6 million and will bring improvements to the Greenbushes townscape and roads, recreation facilities in Greenbushes and Bridgetown and initiatives to bring carbon neutral benefits to Bridgetown Leisure Centre, Library and Civic Centre.

The proposed improvements include:

• a concept plan for Greenbushes Footpath Upgrade and Tree Root Management Plan;

• asphalt overlay for nine (9) streets within the Town of Greenbushes;

• installation of lights at the Greenbushes Sports Complex;

• installation of fans in all courts at Bridgetown Leisure Centre;

• purchase of inflatable obstacle course for Bridgetown swimming pool:

• installation of automated pool blankets for the Bridgetown swimming pool;

• a one-third contribution to cost of Bridgetown Sports Ground works including oval and lighting upgrade and carpark seal; and

• Planning (design and costings) to install solar panels and batteries to make the Bridgetown Leisure Centre, Library and Civic Centre energy neutral equivalent.

The partnership with Geegeelup Village Incorporated (Geegeelup Vision Partnership) will provide $200,000 for groundworks to enable construction of more homes for seniors in the Geegeelup Village complex enhancing opportunities for local residents to remain in their own community as they age. The funding will primarily be used for earthworks and installation of services to enable Geegeelup Incorporated to install four new units on Allnutt Street, Bridgetown.

The historic Greenbushes RSL building will also be given a $190,000 make-over in a community driven project that will improve facilities for the community while enhancing the building’s street frontage. Works will include removal of asbestos cladding, re-stumping and renovation of the kitchen.

Craig Dawson, Talison’s General Manager – Operations, said the CIP was designed to provide larger funding opportunities to deliver strategic programs and projects to build social capital and local ownership by engaging multiple stakeholders including, but not necessarily limited to, community groups, local government, education and training providers, Indigenous organisations and not for profit organisations.

“Talison is looking to support projects that are a high priority for local communities and consistent with the development priorities of local government,” said Mr Dawson.

“We have been engaging with local governments and community organisations over the past few months to identify projects that will add value to our communities across a broad range of categories.”

Shire of Bridgetown-Greenbushes Chief Executive Officer Tim Clynch welcomed the partnership.

“This partnership is in addition to the Shire’s usual capital works program which will still be delivered as per our budget, so it really has provided a boost that will enable Council to respond to community driven projects in a timely manner,” said Mr Clynch.

Shire of Bridgetown-Greenbushes President Jenny Mountford said the Council has been working towards a partnership with Talison for some time.

“We are now delighted to see the formalising and commencement of this momentous partnership. The community of Greenbushes in particular will benefit from some important works with this significant allocation from Talison this year. We are looking forward to ongoing collaboration via the Partnering for the Future program with further projects in coming years,” said Ms Mountford.

Geegelup Village Incorporated Manager Sean Mahoney said “The Talison investment in facilities for our elders will be used to support Geegeelup’s vision to grow and provide more opportunities for residents to age in their own community and the impact of this support is life changing.”

Greenbushes RSL President Trevor Bottomley said his organization was pleased to have been supported in the inaugural round of Talison’s CIP.

“The RSL members have been fundraising for many years to kick start the project, and now, with the generous support of Talison we have the opportunity to give the premises a new lease of life,” said Mr Bottomley.

“It is a historical building which has withstood many changes in the community over the years and with this refurbishment will be able to stand proudly in the main street of Greenbushes for many years to come”. 

The four pillars of Talison’s CIP are Quality Education, Sustainable Environments and Biodiversity Improvement, Health and Wellbeing, and Vibrant and Sustaining communities.

For enquires contact GBContact@talisonlithium.com

Detailed Feasibility Study into recommissioning of Greenbushes to Bunbury Railway

The State Government in conjunction with Talison, the South West Development Commission (SWDC), Arc Infrastructure (Arc) and Aurizon Limited (Aurizon) announced during July the commencement of a Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) into the recommissioning of the Greenbushes to Bunbury railway line for the transportation of spodumene concentrate from the Mine to its domestic customers in Western Australia (WA) and the Port of Bunbury for export.

The DFS will be a collaboration between the State Government (by means of the SWDC), Talison, Arc and Aurizon. A significant component of the study will be to engage with stakeholders to determine the social impacts.

Talison Lithium CEO Lorry Mignacca said the study will be very important given over the next five years, the amount of lithium mineral concentrate transported by road from Greenbushes is projected to reach 2.1 million tonnes a year, which will significantly increase truck movements along the South West Highway.

“Talison Lithium is proud to be leading this work and looks forward to close engagement with its rail industry partners, Government, and most importantly the communities along the railway line,” said Mr Mignacca.

“We are committed to undertaking this study and are hopeful the results of the study will lead to decisions late next year to recommission the Greenbushes to Bunbury railway line which would take our product off the roads and assist with all our decarbonisation efforts.”

The initial round of community consultation sessions is planned to begin in early August 2023. 

For enquiries about the DFS please contact info@talisonrail.com or call 1800418581.