The winners of the Western Australian Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety’s ‘Resources Sector Awards for Excellence’ were announced at an awards ceremony last Thursday (25 October).
The awards aim to help showcase that WA’s significant industry is not only sustainable but also meets the safety, environmental and community balance that is expected of the industry today.
The prestigious Golden Gecko Award for Environmental Excellence recognises leading practice and innovation in environmental management and provides an opportunity to share experiences between government, industry and the community.
This year the judges found that two projects demonstrated ‘such high standards of environmental excellence’ that they were both awarded the Golden Gecko award.
BHP Iron Ore was recognised for their collaborative research project, Chasing Ghosts: Understanding Ghost Bat Ecology in the Pilbara, and WA Port Authorities in collaboration with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development were recognised for their world-first State Wide Array Surveillance Program.
The surveillance program uses molecular techniques with a marine biosecurity surveillance network to rapidly respond to any potential incursion of marine pests.
Roy Hill Holdings was also awarded the Safety and Health Engineering category for their unique lightning protection system, which protects staff who are moving around facilities during lightning red alerts.
2018 winners image courtesy of Australian Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety
Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Johnston congratulated all of the winners who have demonstrated innovative thinking and used new technologies to safeguard Western Australia.
“The people behind these innovations and improvements should be commended for benefitting our environment, communities, and the health and safety of our workers,” the Minister said, “celebrating the advances made in the industry helps promote WA as a destination of choice for technological and service-based solutions in the resources sector.”
More information on the awards can be found here.
A full list of winners in the 2018 Resources Sector Awards for Excellence can be found below:
Golden Gecko Award
Winners:
Chasing Ghosts: Understanding Ghost Bat Ecology in the Pilbara, BHP Iron Ore
The State Wide Array Surveillance Program, WA Port Authorities and Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
Certificate of Merit:
Alcoa and Murdoch University Partnership Eradicates Biological Bulldozer Phytophthora Dieback, Alcoa of Australia
Safety and Health Resources Sector Award
Engineering
Winner:
Lightning Protection System, Roy Hill Holdings
Certificate of Merit:
Spring Leaf Pack Hoist, Mineral Resources Limited
Systems and People
Winner:
Emergency response exposure reduction initiative, BARRIO, Rio Tinto Iron Ore
Certificate of Merit
Newmont Boddington Gold Health and Safety Representative Mentoring Program, Newmont Mining
Community Partnership Resources Sector Award
Winner:
Healthy Food for All, Pilbara Regional Strategy, Foodbank WA and BHP
Certificates of Merit:
Makerspace Project, Yule Brook College and Carey Mining
Alcoa/Munda Biddi Trail Foundation Partnership, Munda Biddi Trail Foundation and Alcoa
