Page
Excellence recognised at NSW Mining awards
Environment & Community Excellence Awards Night, 16 September 2013
Four companies have been recognised at the 2013 Environment and Community Excellence Awards for implementing high quality projects that can be shared across the industry.
The awards were independently judged by an expert panel, including senior representatives from the NSW EPA, the Department of Planning, the Department of Trade and Investment, the Australian Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility, and engineering firm Umwelt.
NSW Minerals Council CEO Stephen Galilee announced the awards last night as part of the industry’s annual Environment and Community Conference. Around 300 delegates are attending to discuss topics such as sustainability, mine rehabilitation and air quality.
BHP Billiton Mt Arthur Coal
has been recognised for its Warrae Wanni Pathways to School Program. The school readiness scheme at Muswellbrook South Public School helps to develop social skills and learning opportunities before kindergarten for children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Glencore Xstrata
has been recognised for developing an integrated system to improve noise and air quality awareness and management at Hunter and Western coalfields mines. The project increases awareness of environmental management amongst employees and allows them to plan their operations to minimise impacts.
“A comprehensive noise and air quality management project and a successful early childhood education initiative are two very different – but two excellent examples – of how the NSW mining industry thinks outside the square to tackle challenges and mitigate its impacts,” Mr Galilee said.
A further two mining operations have been highly commended for their projects to manage noise impacts and mine rehabilitation.
Yancoal’s Moolarben Coal Project
near Mudgee was highly commended with
“The Quiet Achievers – Implementation of the Stealth Fleet”.
A team at the Moolarben mine designed a completely different system to the traditional steel trays, with rubber mats replacing steel floors. Tests showed that this substantially reduced noise impacts.
Also highly commended and winner of the People’s Choice Award as voted by conference delegates was
Barrick (Australia Pacific)
. Barrick’s
“Timbarra Gold Mine Closure”
project near Tenterfield in Northern NSW is a valuable example of a successful relinquishment strategy involving high quality mine rehabilitation.
“Congratulations to all award recipients for delivering projects that demonstrate the innovative ability of our industry to manage environmental and community issues,” Mr Galilee said.
Contact
: Lindsay Hermes
or 0409 758 734