Glencore donates $10,000 for Billabong Sanctuary’s furry and feathered friends
Media release
Glencore is providing funding for Townsville’s Billabong Sanctuary to help the popular tourist destination recover from the impacts of COVID-19.
The donation of $10,000 from the company’s Copper Refinery in Townsville will provide food for the unique Australian wildlife that reside at the sanctuary.
Bob Flemming, Director Billabong Sanctuary said, “at a time when the Sanctuary is experiencing financial difficulties following its closure for three months due to COVID-19, Glencore has made a very generous donation to assist with feeding over 200 animals across 75 species with specialised dietary requirements.
“Glencore has been a long-term supporter of the Sanctuary and in 2016 they sponsored the semi-arid desert display featuring the threatened Greater Bilby.
“This support enabled a captive breeding program for this threatened species, contributing to a release program in the wild in an area protected from predators.
“Glencore has also assisted in upgrading and improving both the koala enclosures and the echidna display”, Mr Flemming said.
Billabong Sanctuary reopened in late June, in time for the school holidays after being forced to close for three months.
Paul Taylor, Manager of Glencore’s Copper Refinery said, “Glencore has been privileged to be able to continue to operate throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, with mining identified by Government as an essential service.
“We are fully aware that this has not been the case for many Townsville businesses and we feel a responsibility to give back to the community that has supported us for many years,” Mr Taylor said.
“Partnering with Billabong allows us to help a long-established and popular local Eco Park to move forward after an extended closure; a venue that we have been proud to partner with successfully on a number of occasions in the past.”
For further information, please contact:
Nadine Roberts
t: +61 7 4744 2955
m: +61 436 341 650
e: Nadine Roberts
Notes for editors
About Glencore
Glencore is one of the world’s largest global diversified natural resource companies and a major producer and marketer of more than 60 commodities. The Group's operations comprise over 150 mining and metallurgical sites and oil production assets.
With a strong footprint in both established and emerging regions for natural resources, Glencore's industrial and marketing activities are supported by a global network of offices located in over 35 countries.
Glencore's customers are industrial consumers, such as those in the automotive, steel, power generation, battery manufacturing and oil sectors. We also provide financing, logistics and other services to producers and consumers of commodities. Glencore’s companies employ around 158,000 people, including contractors.
Glencore is proud to be a member of the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights and the International Council on Mining and Metals. We are an active participant in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative.
About Glencore's Copper Refinery in Townsville
Our Townsville copper refinery is one of the world’s leading electrolytic refineries and provides work for 200 local employees. It is part of Glencore’s integrated North Queensland value-add supply chain that also includes mining, processing and smelting activities in Mount Isa and Cloncurry.
Copper anodes with 99.7% copper are produced via our smelting process in Mount Isa and are transported to the refinery via rail and road. The refining process further purifies copper anode to 99.995% pure, premium ISA brand copper cathode meeting LME Grade A requirements.