Prominent West Australians headline selection committee for Community Partnership Award
| Date: | Tuesday, 11 October 2016 |
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An outstanding field of 26 entries has been whittled down to six finalists who are vying for the Department of Mines and Petroleum’s (DMP) inaugural Community Partnership Awards.
The new awards and the prestigious Golden Gecko Awards for Environmental Excellence will be presented together on 27 October at a special ceremony that will also celebrate the 25th year of the Golden Geckos.
DMP Acting Director General Dr Tim Griffin said the selection committee for the Community Partnership Award had an arduous task choosing the best entries from applications which came from most regions across Western Australia.
"The Community Partnership Awards identify resources industry operators who are prepared to go beyond meeting their regulatory obligations to ensure they are delivering world best practice standards for a sustainable mining future, while also building community confidence as responsible corporate citizens," Dr Griffin said.
"There is strong community expectation that the highest standards will be adopted across WA’s resources sector to ensure health, safety and the environment are not compromised and the sector is sustainable for the benefit of generations to come.
"This event will showcase our nationally significant industry along with the innovative and significant work that resources companies are undertaking that protects the environment and builds confidence to gain a social licence to operate."
The selection committee judging the DMP’s inaugural Community Partnership Resources Sector Award includes three prominent West Australians.
Dr Griffin, who heads the committee, paid tribute to its members, barrister, philanthropist and former WA Governor Malcom McCusker, former Lotterywest CEO Jan Stewart, and mineral and petroleum industries veteran Dr Erica Smyth.
"These individuals bring significant experience and expertise to the judging process for the new award that recognises industry operators who are forging strong community partnerships, resulting in lasting positive legacies," Dr Griffin said.
The Awards for Excellence 2016 will be held at the Pan Pacific Hotel in East Perth on Thursday, 27 October.
For more information, please go to Awards for Excellence on the DMP website, or contact Awards Coordinator Jessica Allen on (08) 9222 3102 or at jessica.allen@dmp.wa.gov.au
To find out more about the Community Partnership Resource Sector Awards, please contact Donna Vicensoni on 9222 3373 or at donna.vicensoni@dmp.wa.gov.au
The 2016 Community Partnership Award finalists
Woodside Energy Ltd and St Luke’s College and Karratha Senior High School
Project Name: Karratha Education Initiative
Starting in 2008, the Karratha Education Initiative is a collaboration between the Woodside-operated North West Shelf Project, St Luke’s College and Karratha Senior High School. It aims to deliver high-quality educational opportunities for students and professional development for teachers in the Pilbara, equivalent to that available in the metropolitan area.
Newcrest Mining and Ngurra Kujungka Incorporated
Project Name: Newcrest Mining and Ngurra Kujungka. A Sustainable, Community Driven, Capacity Building Success Story
Newcrest Mining’s partnership with independent Martu-governed Ngurra Kujungka Inc. is realising sustainable, community-driven, capacity-building initiatives that deliver, in addition to unique sport and recreation programs, healthier lifestyles, employment and training opportunities, and enhanced education prospects. These outcomes are contributing significantly to the development and improved viability of remote Martu communities of the Pilbara.
Cliffs Asia Pacific Iron Ore and Esperance Senior High School, Esperance Anglican Community School, Merredin College and Southern Cross District High School.
Project Name: Cliffs Work Experience Camp
Since 2009, Cliffs Asia Pacific Iron Ore has partnered with four of its local community schools to provide a week-long work experience camp at which Year 10 students and their teachers are given insights into the mining industry.
Newmont Boddington Gold (NBG) and Gnaala Karla Booja Native Title Claimants
Project Name: NBG Moorditj Booja Community Partnership
In 2006, NBG voluntarily initiated negotiations with the Gnaala Karla Booja (GKB) Native Title Claimants to develop a Community Partnership Agreement. This proactive approach resulted in the creation of the voluntary and legally-binding Moorditj Booja Community Partnership Agreement. This approach assisted in the development of a collaborative and mutually-beneficial agreement between the GKB and Newmont Boddington Gold.
Rio Tinto (Iron Ore) and Scitech Discovery Centre
Project Name: The Rio Tinto and Scitech partnership: Engaging Western Australians in STEM
Rio Tinto and Scitech value innovation and education, an alignment which has yielded significant benefits for Western Australians since the partnership began in 2003. Through partnership initiatives, every student, educator and community member in Western Australia has the opportunity to engage with world-class science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) education.
Karara Mining Limited and Midwest Economic & Employment Development Aboriginal Corporation.
Project Name: Innovation Park
Innovation Park is a collaboration between Karara Mining Limited and the Midwest Economic and Employment Development Aboriginal Corporation (MEEDAC). The project involves the innovative use of land purchased by Karara mining during its construction phase to develop a commercially viable farm. The farm produces eggs, fruit and vegetables which are sold locally and back to the Karara mine site.
