The 5th Annual Australian Mining Prospect Awards has attracted the strongest field ever.
Hundreds of companies entered the awards which this year showcased the strength, resilience and innovation of the Australian minerals industry.
The inaugural Trainee or Apprentice of the Year category saw a number of competitive finalists vying for the sought after winners trophy.
With the skills shortage at boiling point, having a successful attraction and retention strategy in place is of paramount importance to mining companies.
As such, competition for the Employer of Choice Award was stiff.
Continuing strong demand for commodities has strengthened the industry’s development of new and innovative technologies, and more efficient and productive methods of mining.
The industry has pushed for growth, innovation, sustainability and safety, which has set the tone for this year’s Prospect Awards entries.
This year, Innovative Mining Solutions proved to be the most competitive category, forcing the team at Australian Mining to narrow the selection to the top 11 finalists.
Prospect Awards judge, Eric Garner, commended each of the finalists on achieving unparalleled innovative solutions, each of which successfully eliminated hazards in the workplace.
The finalists in each of the 14 categories are as follows:
Mine of the Year
Ensham Coal Mine, Ensham Resources
Hail Creek Coal Mine, Rio Tinto Coal Australia
Mt Thorley Warkworth, Coal & Allied, Rio Tinto Coal Australia
Springvale Coal Mine, Centennial Coal
Stratford Coal Mine, Gloucester Coal
Ernest Henry Copper-Gold Mine, Xstrata
McArthur River Mining, Xstrata Zinc Australia
Cadia East Mine, Newcrest Mining
Northparkes Copper Mine, Rio Tinto
Angas Mine, Terramin Australia
Wattle Dam Mine, Ramelius Resources
Mine Manager of the Year
Jol Jardine, Terramin Australia’s Angas Mine
Peter Westerhuis, Ensham Mine
Terry O’brien, Springvale Coal Mine
Tina Markovic, BHP Billiton Mitsuibishi Alliance Poitrel Mine
Brian Hearne, McArthur River Mine
Contract Miner of the Year
CDE Capital
Bilfinger Berger Services
Macmahon Contractors
Pybar Mining
Leighton Contractors
Metalliferous Mine of the Year
Xstrata’s Ernest Henry Copper Gold Mine
McArthur River Mine
Newcrest’s Cadia East Mine
Northparkes Mine
Terramin’s Angas Zinc Mine
Ramelius Resources’ Wattle Dam Mine
Minerals Processing Plant of the Year
Deswik Mining Consultants
Gekko Systems
Alcoa’s Kwinana Refinery
St Ives Gold Mine
Excellence in Occupational Health and Safety
Hydraulic Lifting Housing; Alcoa Safety
Centreline Socket System; Bill Mccurry
Brake Diagnostic Tool; Jan Lichos
Self-locking Jack; Mount Thorley Warkworth
Mine Sliding Ventilation Door; Springvale Coal Underground
Diamond Drill-rig; Swick Mining
Bearing Lifting Jig; Alcoa
Excellence Environmental Management
Alcoa Huntley Mine, McCoy Crusher Site
BHP Billiton Illawarra Coal’s WestVAMP Plant
Birla Mt Gordon Water Treatment
Northparkes Mine & Nylex’s Aquacap
Springvale Coal’s Water Transfer Scheme
Community Partnership of the Year
Alcoa & Clontarf Foundation’s partnership
Mt Thorley Warkworth Aboriginal Community partnership
Nucrush, Good Neighbour Program
Springvale Coal’s Water Transfer Scheme
Xsrata Copper, Indigenous Employment and Training Program
Zinifex Century Mine, Surf n Turf Life Skills Program
Innovative Mining Solution
Bearing Lifting Jig; Alcoa
Suncat Inventory Management System; BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance
Excavator Bucket; Engineered Bucket Solutions
InSite; Gemcom Solutions
Radio Frequency Identification Device; Global Tracking Solutions
PITRAM; Micromine
Strata Management System; Springvale Coal
Manta Cube, Rockwell Automation & Manta Controls
Underground Diamond Drill-rig; Swick Mining
Universal Conveyor Headchute; Wallace & Sons Research Company
Performance Management System; MinVu
Explorer of the Year
Wesfarmers Premier Coal and Blackham Resources
Curnamona Energy
Iluka Resources
Malachite Resources
Mutiny Gold
Coal Mine of the Year
Ensham coal mine
Hail Creek coal mine
Mt Thorley Warkworth coal mine
Springvale coal mine
Stratford coal mine
Most outstanding contribution to mining
Bill McCurry
Lindsay Gilligan
Tim Shanahan
Dr David Noon
Employer of Choice Award
CDE Capital
Oz Minerals
Thiess
Training Prospects
Trainee of Apprentice of the Year
Brett Miller
George Klembt
Edmond Busch
Sorren Owens
Australian Mining wishes to congratulate all of the 5th Annual Prospect Awards Finalists on a fantastic effort. More on each finalists in the November edition of Australian Mining.