Premier announces finalists for prestigious Public Sector Awards.
| Date: | Thursday, 04 September 2014 |
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Mining rehabilitation fund project one of three finalists in developing the economy.
The Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) has been announced as a finalist in the 2014 Premier’s Awards for Excellence in Public Sector Management in the category Developing the economy.
DMP was nominated in this category for the mining rehabilitation fund (MRF) project.
The other finalists in the category are Department of Fisheries for the project From crisis to abundance: transforming the management of western rock lobster fishery, and Department of Housing for Shared equity EOI program.
The category recognises projects which maximise opportunities for the future through stimulating the economy to support employment and growth in Western Australia.
DMP’s Executive Director Environment, Dr Phil Gorey, explained that the MRF is a first of its kind, new pooled fund contributed to by Western Australian mining operators.
“All tenement holders are required to report disturbance data and contribute annually to the fund if their rehabilitation liability estimate exceeds $50,000,” Dr Gorey said.
“Money in the fund will be available to finance rehabilitation of abandoned mines in the State, and interest earned on fund contributions will be available for rehabilitation of legacy abandoned mines.”
The MRF became compulsory from 1 July 2014 after an initial 12-month opt-in period and largely replaces the holding of unconditional performance bonds.
DMP was also nominated in the Improving government category for Geo.VIEW.WA: improving the delivery of geoscience and resource information.
DMP Director General Richard Sellers congratulated the teams behind both projects on the commendable work that resulted in their nominations.
“The teams behind the MRF and GeoVIEW.WA projects have worked exceptionally hard and are both very deserving of the recognition their nominations for these awards bring,” Mr Sellers said.
The Premier’s Awards will be presented in a ceremony on Wednesday 5 November.
