The innovative rehabilitation of old coal mines in the Collie area has seen Wesfarmers rehabilitating disused mine sites and coal pits into a motor sports complex, a recreational lake and an aquaculture research centre.

Wesfarmers re-shaped the sides of an old open cut pit to create milder slopes then used winter flow from the Collie River to create the new Lake Kepwari, now used for water sports, fishing and aquaculture.

Disused mine roads and workshops were recycled by Wesfarmers into a motorplex that includes an off-road skills course, a race circuit and a drag strip that is used for youth driver training, production car testing, and fire, ambulance, police and army driver training. The facility is managed by Motoring South West and contributes $A8 million each year to the local Collie community.

According to WA development minister Alan Carpenter, the Wesfarmers projects reflect a shift from regulatory compliance to encouraging best practice environmental management, displaying stronger relationships between industry and local stakeholders.

"Wesfarmers Premier Coal has shown leadership in sustainable development by establishing assets of lasting social, economic and environmental value and setting new industry standards," Carpenter said.

The Golden Gecko Awards are the highest environmental accolades awardable to the WA mineral and petroleum industries. Information on the awards and winners is available from http://www.doir.wa.gov.au/goldengecko

EnvironmentalManagementNews.net