Alcoa World Alumina Australia has won the Department of Industry and Resources' Golden Gecko Award for excellence in environmental and sustainability practices, Resources Minister Francis Logan has announced.
The company won the award for the $25million rehabilitation program that followed the closure of the company's first bauxite mine at Jarrahdale.
AngloGold Ashanti was also awarded a Certificate of Merit for its project at the Sunrise Dam Goldmine.
The full text of a ministerial announcement is pasted below
Mining company Alcoa of Australia has won the Golden Gecko environmental award for the $25 million rehabilitation program that followed the closure of the company's first bauxite mine at Jarrahdale.
AngloGold Ashanti was also awarded a Certificate of Merit for its project at the Sunrise Dam Goldmine.
The awards were presented by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Resources Jaye Radisich.
Resources Minister Francis Logan said Alcoa ceased production at its Jarrahdale bauxite mine in 1998 after 35 years of operation.
"Alcoa developed a plan which aimed to leave the mine site in a safe and self-sustaining state," he said.
"This plan involved the removal of all infrastructure, including buildings, workshops, power lines, water pipes and a sewage treatment plant.
"It also saw the removal of contaminated soil and materials, a topsoil screening process to concentrate seed in the soil and the redeployment or retraining of 250 mine staff."
Mr Logan said the Jarrahdale project was Alcoa's fifth Golden Gecko Award, after previously being successful in 1992, 1996, 2000 and 2002.
AngloGold Ashanti received its award for using wind energy to power a big groundwater recovery bore at the Sunrise Dam mine's tailings storage facility.
In conjunction with Westwind Turbines, AngloGold Ashanti designed, built, tested and implemented an innovative power supply and regulation system that resulted in zero greenhouse gas emissions.
The Golden Gecko Awards, now in their sixteenth year, are facilitated by the Department of Industry and Resources to promote environmental excellence within the resources sector. The awards highlight the industry's commitment to the environment and a sustainable future, as well as set new benchmarks for environmental practices.
