Peabody’s Wilpinjong mine has partnered with local community group Gulgong Men’s Shed to build 75 nesting boxes for the native animal population.

Environmental Advisor to Peabody Wilpinjong Josh Frappell is excited about the positive social and environmental impact of the partnership.

‘I approached the local Men’s Shed after seeing some of the works they had produced and thought it was within their area of expertise. They were more than capable and even proposed some box designs, which we took on board,’ Josh said.

‘The Nesting Box program will encourage possums, small owls, cockatoos, parrots, quolls, tree creepers and gliders from the adjacent Munghorn Nature Reserve and Goulburn River National Park.

‘The main idea was to keep jobs and product procurement as local as possible. It’s 100 per cent locally resourced and we’re supporting a community organisation with a large project,’ Josh said.

Nesting boxes will likely be installed in March and April for the next breeding season. If all goes well, then the program will be extended in coming years.