News
Golden Gecko Awards for Environmental Excellence
14/01/10
The Golden Gecko Awards for Environmental Excellence are awarded for innovation, leadership and performance in the environmental management of the Western Australian resources sector and its services.
As well as recognising excellence, the Awards, run by the Department of Mines and Petroleum, provide a great opportunity for industry to share learning and knowledge with peers and government. The Awards also serve as a vehicle for improving the community’s understanding of leading industry practices.
From 2010, the application process has been streamlined so that those who wish to enter lodge an online form (answering five key questions) at www.dmp.wa.gov.au/goldengecko. This new application process provides a greater opportunity for recognition of those great innovations and practices that are continually being developed.
Once the online entries are accepted, an Assessment Panel will undertake either a site visit or a meeting to discuss the entry further.
The Minister for Mines and Petroleum presents award recipients with a bronze Golden Gecko Award sculpture on the Awards night. Certificate of Merits may also be awarded.
The names of all award and certificate recipients are recorded on a sculpture perpetually displayed in the department’s head office in Perth.
Key Dates
25 January 2010 - Entries open online at www.dmp.wa.gov.au/goldengecko
9 April 2010 - Entries open
May 2010 - Entrants informed of acceptance and further assessment begins
June/July 2010 - Further assessment through site visits and meetings
August 2010 - Selection Committee recommends recipients to the Minister
September 2010 - Awards Night Presentation
2009 Recipients
Sodexo Remote Sites – Resource Recovery Program
Sodexo Remote Sites is a catering and facility management company engaged by remote mining villages. It has demonstrated strong environmental stewardship and is committed to continuous resource recovery improvements. Its Resource Recovery Program provides a sustainable alternative to existing waste management practices, which has minimised the use of dedicated landfill sites at mine villages.
With strong support of residents, materials are initially segregated through clearly identifiable recycling stations, which are then compacted and packaged for backloading on supply trucks. Through the Ruggies Recycling Program, Sodexo has raised significant donations for Princess Margaret Hospital and the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
Custom-designed equipment has also been developed for the recovery of bulk canola oil to be converted into biodiesel and used to fuel some onsite vehicles.
Woodside Energy – Reservoir Appraisal in a Coral Reef Environment
From 2007 to 2008, Woodside undertook a series of hydrocarbon reservoir appraisal activities within or near the Scott Reef coral reef system.
Prior to the implementation of two marine seismic surveys, Woodside engaged marine scientists from Australia and the United States to undertake in-situ research into the effects of seismic surveys on coral reef fish hearing. The research demonstrated that the seismic surveys could be undertaken with minimal impacts.
The findings from the rigorous scientific research project are applicable and accessible to the rest of the petroleum industry. Woodside also minimised the environmental impact of a drilling operation.
In 2008, the Torosa-6 well was drilled using a jack-up rig to minimise seabed impact at a location with low coral cover. Selection of the site and the drilling rig contributed to minimising the environmental footprint of the drilling operation. Existing drilling techniques were also refined in order to capture the well cuttings and drilling fluids to be disposed of in less sensitive areas to ensure there were no subsequent turbidity impacts on the coral reef. This was the first use of such technology in Australia.
Certificate of Merit – St Barbara Leonora Sustainable Mining Village
St Barbara took the opportunity to develop water and energy efficient transportable housing for the expansions of the Leonora Village. SKM was engaged to study sustainable design features and then worked with architect Ian Hooke and construction company Ausco to create a custom design. The passive design to reduce artificial heating and cooling has achieved a 30 per cent reduction in energy use and a 50 per cent reduction in water consumption.
2008 Recipients
- Minara Resources Ltd for a framework of key performance indicators for rehabilitation
- Rocla Quarry Products with Kings Park and Botanical Gardens for the rehabilitation of banksia woodland on the Swan Coastal Plain
- HiSmelt for the iron ore smelting process and local initiatives for the reuse of materials and water, and energy efficiency.
More Information
For more information, contact Golden Gecko Awards Coordinator Kate Buckley by email kate.buckley@dmp.wa.gov.au or call 9222 3529