No Mine at Bargo is an award-winning program and received the highest honour in the Community Relations and Engagement Campaign division at the Public Relations Institute of Australia’s 2021 Golden Target Awards. Coal company SIMEC applied to the NSW Department of Planning to expand its Tahmoor mine directly beneath the small township of Bargo, 100km SW of Sydney.
Primary was engaged by Ironlaw in July 2019 to:
- To prevent or limit longwall mining under potential residential areas of Bargo which could be impacted by mine subsidence and other environmental factors
- To obtain government and media support for the protection of Bargo
Primary developed a grassroots community engagement campaign, No Mine at Bargo, to build awareness amongst residents and activate locals to reach government and stakeholder influencers to stop the mine. Primary also coordinated a media campaign to support activities.
Primary was responsible for the complete process of community engagement materials development – content, design, print, and distribution.
- Over 7,000 homes around Bargo were letterboxed with a series of 12 information brochures each focussing on an issue such as decreasing house values, subsidence, waterways, flora and fauna, bores, and Aboriginal heritage sites.
- The No Mine at Bargo Facebook, Youtube, and website made information easily accessible, including five videos produced by Primary. Supporters registered on website to receive updates or submit photos and new information. Primary conversed with many subscribers by phone to discuss issues.
- This program reduced the Tahmoor mining area by 80% and the NSW Government then imposed 160 conditions on any mining in the remaining area.
