Announcing the appointments the new independent chair of the committees, Mr Milton Morris AO, welcomed all new members and said he looked forward to working with them for the benefit of the local community.

Mr Morris said he was pleased that all those members of the public who had nominated for the committees had been appointed.

The members of the Duralie Community Consultative Committee are Allan Fisher-Webster, Cr Tony Tersteeg, Brian Eastoe, Rod Williams and Donald Carroll along with representatives from Duralie Coal Pty Ltd and Great Lakes Council including Lisa Schiff (Director of Planning).

The members of the Stratford Committee are Anthony Berecry, Phillip Greenwood, Kevin Lowrey, Keith Latham, Richard Clarke and Norman Bignell as well as Councillors Jim Henderson and Tony Tersteeg from Gloucester Shire Council and representatives from Stratford Coal Pty Ltd.

Mr Morris said the purpose of Community Consultative Committees is to establish a proper forum for effective and transparent discussions between local representatives, Government agencies, interested stakeholders and Gloucester Coal.

Mr Morris also reinforced the role committee representatives play, by keeping the wider community informed and assisting Gloucester Coal to understand community needs and respond when appropriate.

The first meeting of the new consultative committees will be held today, Wednesday, June 22.

Minutes of meetings will be made available on Gloucester Coal’s website after approval by the Community Consultative Committee.