Another Midwest Community Group to Benefit from the Karara Community Farm

Karara is really proud of its support and initiatives within the community.  Along with the great achievements we are progressing starting a new operation, it is another key part of what makes the company an inspiring place to be involved with. 

The recent early winter rains have provided the perfect backdrop to the recent planting of the second crop on the Karara Community Farm, which has been awarded this year to the Morawa Golf and Bowls Club – with the weather conditions pointing to another bumper harvest.

The Club, which is a focal point of the community in Morawa, will follow in the footsteps of last year’s recipient, the Morawa Winter Sports Group, which was able to pocket more than $90,000 in profits from its highly successful crop.

The Karara Community Farm is an innovative community-based initiative launched by Karara Mining Limited (KML) last year where 600 acres of farming land owned by the Company is provided to Midwest community and sporting groups for fund raising purposes.

The community groups are required to supply the seed, fertiliser and labour (usually through donations) and then keep all the proceeds from the harvested crop.

KML Chief Executive Steve Murdoch said the Karara Community Farm had proven to be a highly successful fund raising initiative for community groups in the Midwest region, providing an innovative alternative to traditional approaches.

"The Community Farm draws on the expertise of the community and provides a conduit – provided by KML – for community groups to help themselves and generate significant profits which they can plough back into their activities," Mr Murdoch said.

"I would like to congratulate the Morawa Golf and Bowls Club on being selected to run the second Karara Community Farm, which continues to demonstrate how mining and agriculture can coexist and participate in joint initiatives to improve the community," he added

Applications for the 2013 Karara Community Farm will open from October and remain open until March next year. Interested community groups should contact Greg Payne, KML’s Community Relations Manager, for further information.

Mr Murdoch said Midwest communities were beginning to see an ever-growing flow of benefits and positive tangible economic spin-offs from the development of Karara Mining, which has entered its final phase of construction. To date, KML has spent more than $220 million in the local economy.