Loy Yang Power wins praise

May 2005

Victorian Minister for Energy Industries and Resources Theo Theophanous, second from right, congratulates the Loy Yang Power team, from left, Gerald May, Russell Center, Richard Elkington, Ian Nethercote and Jon Missen.

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oy Yang Power won the Gold Award for Industry Best Practice and Highly Commended for Community Engagement at the inaugural Strzelecki Earth Resources Sustainability Awards presented at Parliament House in Melbourne on 29 April.

The Strzelecki Awards recognise outstanding achievement in sustainable development in the mining, extractive and petroleum industries.

Loy Yang Power Chief Executive Ian Nethercote accepted the awards from Victorian Minister for Energy Industries and Resources Theo Theophanous.

Ian said the awards recognised Loy Yang Power's commitment to continuous improvement in sustainable environmental management and community consultation.

"I was pleased to accept these awards on behalf of the many Loy Yang Power employees who contribute to environmental sustainability in their daily activities," said Ian.

Ian thanked the team which compiled the award submissions - Gerald May, Russell Center, Roland Davies, Jon Missen and Russell Pentland.

At the awards ceremony, Mr Theophanous said that the Strzelecki Awards recognised and encouraged environmental and social excellence and innovation in Victoria's earth resources sector.

"The earth resources industries underpin the Victorian economy and have a far-reaching impact on the daily lives of all Victorians," said Mr Theophanous.

The awards were named after the Polish explorer and mineralogist Sir Pawel Edmund de Strzelecki who visited Australian in the 1830s and advocated the rational use of natural resources.

AWARD DETAILS

Gold Award for Industry Best Practice - Loy Yang Power for Sustainability through Industry Best Practice
Loy Yang Power strives to achieve industry best practice in all aspects of its operation. Loy Yang Power has developed and implemented an Environmental Management System which meets international standards and which sets out an environmental policy, objectives and targets and programs for environmental management. It includes procedures for the management of significant environmental issues including greenhouse gas emissions, air and water quality, geological stability, land management, flora and fauna and fugitive dust. Loy Yang Power has received Accredited Licensee status with the Victorian Environment Protection Authority affording a higher degree of self-regulation in recognition of excellence of performance and processes.

Highly Commended for Community Engagement - Loy Yang Power for Innovation in Community Engagement
Loy Yang Power operates an innovative community engagement program with the Latrobe Valley. In 2004 Loy Yang Power launched a stakeholder engagement program with key features including:

Establishing a revamped Environmental Review Committee consisting of community, regulatory and management representatives;
Community forums;
Publishing triple bottom line reports in the Latrobe Valley Express; and
Forming working groups to address specific business issues.

The process is supported by community surveys and independent audits of compliance with industry codes of practice and has been lauded as a model for community engagement.

Other winners:

Gold Award for Community Engagement - Illuka Resources Limited for Douglas Project.
Illuka carried out extensive community consultation for the Douglas Project, building relationships with key stakeholders before gaining its licence to operate the Douglas mine and a mineral separation plant.

Gold Award for Management of the Natural Environment - Readymix/Boral Joint Venture for Karkarook Park.
Previously a quarry, Karkarook Park is now a thriving area with diverse ecosystems and landscapes that balance the needs of both the environment and the park's 160,000 visitors a year.

Platinum Award - Readymix/Boral Joint Venture for Karkarook Park.