Successful remediation works of the Waratah Rivulet south west of Sydney, and a unique collaboration between a mining company and its local community to establish a health centre in Cobar, have taken first prize in their categories in this year’s NSW Minerals Council annual Environment and Community Excellence Awards.

Peabody’s Metropolitan Colliery took first prize in the environment category for its successful remediation of a stream rock bar at the Waratah Rivulet.

The company has successfully completed a remediation trial using polyurethane (PUR) to repair localised cracking in a section of the rivulet, with the technique recently being approved by the Sydney Catchment Authority.

CMPL’s CSA Mine in Cobar took first prize in the community category for working with the local community to establish the Cobar Primary Health Centre.

The health centre opened earlier this year with three doctors, two practice nurses, the Aboriginal Medical Service and visiting allied health professionals.

The mine has helped establish a medical facility which is sustainable in the long term, rather than take the traditional approach of providing

in-house medical services which would only be available for the duration of the business and not be accessible to the entire community.

“These two projects are superb examples of the historic transformation which has taken place in the mining industry over the past 10 years in relation to its social and environmental obligations to the communities in which companies and their employees live and work,” Dr Nikki Williams, CEO NSW Minerals Council, said.

“Our annual awards are an opportunity to acknowledge leadership, innovation and commitment to environmental management and community engagement.

“The range and breadth of projects being undertaken by individual companies - from our largest multinational to small juniors - are quite staggering and cover everything from mine site revegetation, protecting native species, reducing water use, engaging with the local community to ensure long-term sustainability of communities and

working with local Indigenous communities to preserve their heritage under the principles of the Native Title Agreement.”

Award winners:

Environment - Peabody for successful remediation of a stream rock bar at Waratah Riverlet.

Community - Cobar Management Cobar Health Care Centre committee.

Finalists include:

Peak Gold Mines for enterprise facilitation and the long-term sustainability of Cobar.

Bursting with Energy Expo committee for Bursting with Energy Expo (Upper Hunter Show).