Regional partnerships

Argyle is committed to leaving a healthier, wealthier and stronger East Kimberley region when it closes its mining operations. While this is not the core business of the organisation, Argyle is well placed, as a major player in the region, to help build a robust economy and community that will endure well beyond the life of the mine.

To achieve this, Argyle is building partnerships with businesses and organisations throughout the region, helping to develop their capacity to affect change over time. This partnership approach promotes local leadership and control, and encourages the long-term sharing of resources.

The activities and projects that Argyle supports through its partnerships are designed to improve the life of communities - making towns better places to live in, building community leadership, supporting local cultural events, and improving education and health delivery. Argyle also supports 'pilot' projects that explore alternative approaches to local issues where quantum change is needed.

Operating locally

Through its localisation policy, Argyle is continuing to divert salary and wage payments from Perth to the East Kimberley. This diversion creates not only immediate economic benefits for the region, but also a whole range of unquantifiable benefits through improving the skills of the workforce and increasing the participation of indigenous people in the regional economy. Argyle's preference for purchasing goods and services locally also provides a direct boost to the local economy and helps to ensure the ongoing viability of many local businesses.

Developing social infrastructure

Argyle is helping to improve community services and social outcomes in the East Kimberley region through its involvement in a number of health, education, business development and training partnerships. These include:

• The Graham “Polly” Farmer follow the dream programme at Kununurra District High School, with the Polly Farmer Foundation, the Western Australian Education Department, the Commonwealth Department of Education, Science and Training, East Kimberley schools and families, and TAFE.
• Indigenous business development and incubator projects, with the Gelganyem trust.
• Creation of traineeship and apprenticeships for local indigenous people, with the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations
• Transmission and continuation of traditional indigenous culture, with Traditional Owners of the Argyle mine site lease.

Doon Doon roadhouse and caravan park

The Doon Doon roadhouse, whose development has been strongly supported by Argyle over a number of years, is now up and running and securing custom on the Halls Creek to Kununurra leg of the Great Northern Highway. The roadhouse developed an associated caravan park and introduced 'Tag Along Tours’ in 2005. Argyle has supported the construction of the roadhouse, the training of its staff and the business planning for the tour component of the business.

Rio Tinto community investment

The Argyle Diamond Mine and Rio Tinto in Western Australia support a wide range of programs and partnerships across the state which aims to build a stronger and more sustainable community. For more information about our community programs, visit the Rio Tinto Community Investment website.