| | Sustainability
Message from the Managing Director
Western Areas is committed to the sustainability of the communities and environments in which it operates.
The Board believes that a Company culture of accountability and transparency is critical to ensuring Western Areas' operations have minimal impact on the environment while maximising benefits for employees and the community.
Western Area's focus on sustainability is underpinned by five key principles:
- Sustainability is a core consideration of Western Area's daily business activities and operations;
- The key to Western Areas' success is the health, safety and professional development of its employees;
- Expertise, innovation and technology are important tools to ensure minimal environmental impact;
- The communities in which Western Areas operate are partners in the Company's development; and
- Continual review and improvement is critical to maintaining the highest standards in sustainable business practice.
Western Areas recognises and respects its role in ensuring the sustainability of its operational environment.
Julian Hanna
Managing Director
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Health & Safety
The key to Western Areas' success is the health, safety and professional development of its employees.
Key initiatives and achievements include:
- On-site Occupational Health & Safety and Emergency Response teams;
- Regular safety and mines rescue training, coordinated by ER teams and including First Aid, BG4's, underground search and rescue, rope rescue, vehicle extrication, open circuit breathing apparatus, fire fighting and HazChem;
- Implementation of comprehensive safety procedures;
- Preparation and distribution of a regular Emergency Response newsletter;
- Introduction of new equipment and the establishment of training rooms and an outside training facility at Flying Fox; and
- A Professional Development program that gives employees exposure to the lead auditor of OHS Management Systems, the opportunity to undertake OHS Diploma studies and courses in open and closed breathing apparatus, vehicle extrication, vertical rope, fire, HazChem and Emergency First Responder training.
Walking the plank to develop team skills on site. |
Environment
Expertise, innovation and technology are important tools to ensure minimal environmental impact.
The Environment Department activities for the December Q consisted of submitting permit applicatins for the new Spotted Quoll mine and associated infrastructure and development of management plans to ensure compliance with our environmental obligations. No significant environmental incidents occured during the December Q. Key initiatives and achievements include:
- On site environmental officers to monitor the mine environment,liase with environment authorites and coodordinate management activities;
- Full compliance will all environmental approvals and regulations, with no breaches of the environmental protection act at the Flyin Fox mine since it's inception;
- Engagement with Government and non Government organisations, including the Department of Industry and Resources (DoIR), the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC), the wilderness society, the conservation council and the wildflower society;
- Western Areas received various secondary approvals for the Spotted Quoll mine project;
- Management and conservation plans have been developed for species with conservation significance that occur within the Forrestania Nikel Project area. These include the Mallee Fowl, Western Spotted Quoll and Eucalyptus steedmanii;
- Progressive rehabilitation of sites is continuing with a focus on collecting provenance seeds and growing tubestock for revegetation trials commencing in 2010;
- Western Areas has continued support of the Eastern Wheatbelt Declared Species Groups feral animal control program. The Company also supports the Northern Quoll enclosure at Perth Zoo;
- Completion of a DEC endorsed study into the conservation significance of species of Mygalomorph (Trapdoor) spiders in the Forrestania area through genetics and the creation of a phylogenetic tree. This work is being conducted by Biota Environmental Sciences in conjunction with UWA and will lead to ground breaking information regarding the status of these species. The Mygalomorph program goes over and above the conventional requirements of a fauna monitoring program;
- Ongoing development of the Environmental Management Plan, to ensure the highest standards of environmental conduct is upheld on site;
- Development of an Environmental Procedures Manual to outline formal guidelines for conducting ground disturbance, exploration and for the management of HazChem, saline water and waste products;
- Regular environmental worksite inspections including preparation of a priority actions report to be distributed to relevant contractors;
- Policy of conducting Declared Rare Flora/Priority Flora vegetation surveys for all new Mining Proposals, Letters of Intent and Program of Works applications;
- Policy of utilising previously disturbed sites wherever possible;
- Progressive rehabilitation of disturbed areas where applicable;
- Compliance with Operating Licence conditions and other conditions and commitments set for the project;and
- Presentations to the onsite workforce at the site EHS meetings including workshops on environmental compliance requirements as well as other topics of interest aimed at educating the workforce.
Community
Communities in which Western Areas operates are partners in the Company's development.
- Sponsorship of DEC's Western Shield project. We are helping in the sponsorship of the Dragon Rocks Nature Reserve some 60kms west of the project area;
- Seeking to establish a partnership with local shires to encourage site visits from local schools and support of other community development programs.
- Investigating further sponsorship opportunities and community partnership initiatives;
- Continuing support at the Hyden Respite Centre;and
- Western Areas is a proud supporter of several Australian charities, the National Breast Cancer Foundation's Pink Ribbon Appeal, Australia's Biggest Morning Tea, Prostate Councer Foundation and the National Depression Initiative, Beyond Blue.
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