Hunter Valley Operations Community Grants - Round 1 2025

About Hunter Valley Operations

Hunter Valley Operations (HVO) is an established open cut mine located about 24km north-west of Singleton in the Upper Hunter Valley region of NSW, supplying international markets with more than 11 million tonnes of coal per annum.

HVO is a joint venture operation, owned and controlled between Glencore (49%) and Yancoal (51%).

The HVO complex is a Tier 1 asset, regarded as one of the highest quality thermal and semi-soft coking coal mines in the world.

Our Community Investment Focus Areas

We are committed to investing in the development of communities in which we operate.  We aim to build positive and lasting social and economic benefits by seeking out, undertaking and contributing to activities and projects aligned with these goals.

To be considered for community investment, whether financial or in-kind, applications must demonstrate how the initiative will make a positive contribution to the community and should target at least one of the following focus areas:

• • Capacity building - including but not limited to education/training, enterprise development and economic diversification
  • Health
  • Environment
  • Local need

Additional local and regional priority areas may also be communicated by HVO. Applications that address these priority areas may also be accepted.

Communities of Interest

Preference will be given to applications that benefit the communities within close proximity to our existing operation or project activities.  This includes the Singleton Local Government Area (LGA) and surrounding communities.

What type of funding is available?

Community funding grants are available for smaller, one-off donations to support local community groups and organisations.

We will typically accept applications of up to $5,000 but we will assess higher amounts on merit and value to the community.  If you have a larger project or partnership please contact us.

NB: Projects or initiatives that apply for a portion of their total project costs will not be considered unless the remaining project costs are secured - either from the applicant organisation or other funding sources.

Is your community project eligible for funding?

To be eligible, the application must:

• be from a not-for-profit, incorporated organisation operating a separate, auditable organisational bank account
• demonstrate the organisation’s ability to manage the proposed project/activity in a professional manner
• primarily benefit at least one of the communities where we operate
• address a substantiated need in the community
• demonstrate how the initiative will directly benefit the local community
• demonstrate a high level of community involvement i.e. be widely beneficial to the community
• demonstrate financial sustainability, i.e. not become reliant on ongoing funding from HVO
• have clearly defined objectives and timeframes
• be received at least 8 weeks prior to the planned project/activity implementation or within the funding round timeframe

What will not be considered?

Applications for support of:

• political parties or organisations, politicians or candidates for public office
• individuals; including those seeking support for activities such as academic studies, competing in a sporting event, travel or raising funds for another organisation
• ‘for profit’ organisations
• touring sporting or cultural groups or individuals
• religious activities
• any activities which are exclusive to a single faith community
• conferences or speakers at conferences
• production or distribution of advertising or marketing material
• core operating costs of an organisation e.g. staff, operational expenses
• projects/activities that are the responsibility of government
• projects/activities that do not demonstrate financial sustainability
• overseas appeals
• research projects
• projects/activities that have already been completed (retrospective funding)
• Organisations that promote controversial issues or advocate against the coal industry.

Please DO NOT submit multiple funding applications for the one project. 

Project/Activity Completion

Projects must be completed within 12 months from the time of funding unless an agreed multiyear project is approved.

Project/Activity Agreement and Evaluation

Depending on the level of funding and complexity of the project, a project agreement may be entered into that may include providing a project report and/or evaluation. Upon request successful applicants must provide an expenditure/reconciliation statement or proof of project completion.

If you are not a current vendor in our system, OR your Vendor Account in the system has not been used in the last 12 months, you will be required to provide information in the Vendor Portal system in the event that your application for funding is successful .

Our Contact Details

Should you require further information about HVO's Community Grants program, please contact the Environment and Community team:

Phone:  0455 782 292

Email:  environmentandcommunity@hvo.com.au

Completing the Application Form

The following information is used to help assess applications on their merit and contribution toward community development in our operational communities.

When completing the form Please remember to save your work every 5 to 10 minutes.