Community and the Environment
The community
Crown is proud to support the local communities in which it operates through financial and in-kind donations, participation and support of non-profit events, employee volunteer contributions and sponsorships.
Crown Melbourne
Crown Melbourne contributes to the Victorian community through its financial support of community organisations and charities including the Royal Children's Hospital (including the RCH 1000 and the Neonatal Unit programs), the Heartwell Foundation, Make-A-Wish and KOALA Foundation (Kids Oncology and Leukaemia Action Group), Open Family Australia, Challenge, Kids Under Cover and the Neuroscience Foundation. Crown Melbourne also assists hundreds of community-based associations, from schools and sporting clubs to fire brigades, police units and ethnic groups, by donating in-kind prizes, such as accommodation, for fundraising activities.
A highlight this year included hosting two of Australia's largest and most successful fundraising initiatives: the KOALA Foundation's annual Million Dollar Lunch and the Ilhan Food Allergies Foundation's Rainbow Ball. A combined total of over $3 million dollars was raised to boost research, aid and awareness nationally for both causes.
Crown Melbourne actively participates in numerous community-based projects. One project is the Victorian Safer Communities Network and the Australian Safer Communities Foundation. This year it was a founding member of the ReTALE Project which identifies homeless youth to offer opportunities for training and work experience to enhance their employment prospects for the future.
Burswood
Burswood contributes to the Western Australian community under its community partnerships program, ‘A Brighter Future'. With 80 percent of front line staff between 18 and 30 years of age, Burswood's current focus is on supporting this demographic, with the aim of making a sustainable difference to a group that is representative of the future.
‘A Brighter Future' targets a cross section of issues and projects relevant to young people. In 2008, Burswood launched Young Artists With Artitude, part of Telethon Speech and Hearing's high profile Art exhibition held at Burswood and giving local artists a high profile platform to exhibit their work. Burswood also sponsored STYLEAID in 2008, a fashion fundraiser to benefit the Western Australian Aids Council. The WAAC provides a range of services to the Western Australian community, including care and support for HIV positive people and educational programs.
Funds, resources and services continue to be donated to a range of community-based projects, events and local charities. Burswood supported many community partners by hosting their annual gala fund-raising events. This year's highlights were the annual Ronald McDonald House Charities Ball and the annual Youth Focus Ball, which raised funds to assist in the prevention of youth suicide and depression. This year, a record number of staff participated in the annual ‘Walk To Cure,' in support of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
Burswood continues its sponsorship program to support local businesses and sporting organisations. These included the West Coast Eagles and Fremantle Dockers AFL clubs, the Western Force Super 14 Rugby Union team and the Western Australian Olympic Council
in the lead-up to the Beijing Olympic Games. Burswood Dome also hosted the 20th Hyundai Hopman Cup tennis tournament.
The environment
Crown is committed to make meaningful contributions toward reducing its environmental impact by pursuing sustainable energy, water and waste practices in all of its operations. This commitment is consistent with the objectives to create memorable experiences and enhance shareholder value.
Crown Melbourne
While the business experienced strong operational growth, Crown Melbourne's water consumption remained steady at 2007 levels, which were 20 percent less than the previous year. Crown's updated and approved waterMAP plan continues to improve efficiencies. New initiatives during the year included the introduction of rainwater harvesting systems, which were commissioned to further increase self-sufficiency and meet landscaping and back-of-house requirements. Employees participated in a water-efficient shower head exchange program that was run in conjunction with South East Water.
Energy assessments were carried out in accordance with the Commonwealth Government's Energy Efficiencies Opportunities program and a number of large-scale lighting projects made an important contribution to energy efficiency across the site. One of these was the upgrade of all lights in the 3,400-bay multi-level car park to energy efficient lamps.
Waste reduction efforts continued to build momentum with almost 250 tonnes of food waste diverted to a natural recovery (or composting) facility instead of landfill. Crown Melbourne also hosted a sustainability workshop during the year facilitated by PricewaterhouseCoopers. The workshop generated more than 100 opportunities for energy efficiency that are currently being evaluated.
Burswood
Reducing Burswood's environmental impact remained a core aim throughout this period of significant investment and construction.
Key focuses this year were lighting projects to retrofit energy efficient lighting in addition to the introduction of a building management system to monitor air-conditioning and electrical energy usage across the property.
Water audits by an external agency were conducted across the complex resulting in significant water savings and an increase in water efficiency scores. In addition, a bore was installed which, in conjunction with complex-wide water saving initiatives, will provide a one mega-litre reduction in scheme water usage annually.