Continued partnership with the International River Foundation

In 2024, we continued to partner with the International River Foundation (IRF) to support their vision of healthy and resilient rivers for future generations and the delivery of UN SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation for All.

In Indonesia, our MSJ team worked with the IRF, Makarti Village government and community, local environmental groups, and agencies to implement waste management practices in Makarti Village. This extension of the Thiess and IRF Clean Rivers Program provided the local community with a waste bank program, waste recovery facilities and educational sessions on waste management and segregation. Since implementation, these efforts have resulted in a reduction of plastic waste disposed into the Makarti River of 288kg, led to a new income stream for the village, increased awareness about the critical role rivers play, and encouraged further conservation efforts. The Program also initiated an inaugural World Rivers Day community clean-up, where local volunteers collected 367kg of plastic waste from the river and its tributaries.

In Australia, Thiess, the IRF and local council partners also pioneered a corporate employee engagement program where volunteers planted 300 trees in the Lockyer Valley, Queensland. Establishment of these trees will help improve habitat, reduce erosion, minimise sedimentation and preserve the health of local creeks and waterways in the upper catchment of the Brisbane River, downstream and out to Moreton Bay.