KOMATSU HELPS TO REVEAL HISTORIC SYDNEY HARBOUR LANDCARE AUSTRALIA INITIATIVE

Sydney's iconic Middle Head Fort, part of Sydney Harbour National Park, received much-needed assistance

...as Komatsu employees donate their time and machinery to a restoration project at the historic site.

Twelve Komatsu employees worked over two days clearing debris and rubble from in and around the inner fort tunnel system and gunnery area, much of which was deposited by the army prior to their departure in the 1970s.

Komatsu Australia managing director and CEO, Sean Taylor, said that Komatsu was proud to be involved with the restoration of a unique piece of Sydney's history.

"The Middle Head fortifications played a pivotal role in Sydney and indeed Australia's history for more than 150 years," he said.

"The fort served as a bastion of defence from the early days of the 19th century, through two world wars and up to the last days of the war in Vietnam.

"It's an honour for us to donate our time and resources to aid Landcare Australia and the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service in restoring and maintaining Middle Head Fort as a historically significant site for future generations," Mr Taylor said.

Landcare Australia's partnerships manager, Odessa O'Brien, said that Landcare Australia welcomed support from Komatsu Australia and its employees in maintaining the Middle Head fortifications.

"Komatsu's history of civic projects made them an obvious choice to help restore and maintain these historic fortifications," she said.

"We are thrilled to have the support of Komatsu's employees and backhoe loader at Middle Head. This will not only benefit the people of Sydney but also show other businesses across Australia how they can get involved and support Landcare projects and the environment."

Project manager and ranger for the site, Melanie Tyas said "we are thrilled, as four year's worth of hand-digging has been done in two days. It's such a great Christmas present for the volunteers."

Komatsu is proud to support Landcare Australia's Corporate Environmental Volunteering program, a partnership with the NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service and the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife.Komatsu's environmental initiatives extend beyond its support of this historic site within Sydney Harbour National Park ; Komatsu debuted its first hybrid excavator in 2008 and now manufactures three hybrid excavator models, which offer improved fuel economy and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

Komatsu Australia has a decades-long history of civic initiatives internationally, from land mine removal in Angola and Cambodia to its long term partnership with the Beacon Foundation, a non-profit group that tackles youth unemployment and social issues.