Rehabilitation Recognition for Tronox’s Southern Operations

Tronox’s Southern Operations’ environmental restoration efforts garnered praise from an Australian government agency.

Tronox began restoring 110 hectares of Ludlow Tuart Forest in 2005. This year, our mining team in Australia were recognized for their work on the Ludlow Tuart Forest Post-Mining Rehabilitation project as a highly commended finalist for the Golden Gecko Award for Environmental Excellence.

Awarded by the Western Australia Department for Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, the Golden Gecko recognizes leading practice and innovation in environmental management. Geckos are among the last species to return to an area after a land disturbance, such as mining, so their presence indicates a return to a healthy functioning ecosystem. This is why the gecko was chosen as a symbol of environmental performance.

The Tronox Ludlow Mineral Sands mine is an industry benchmark in Tuart Forest rehabilitation – the first of its kind. Stakeholder engagement and innovative environmental practices raised industry standards and achieved great outcomes for the community, industry, and the environment. With biodiversity and vegetation health far exceeding what existed prior to mining—as well as the development of a historic walk trail—this project delivered a wide range of improvements and benefits.

John Dallywater, Site Director-Southern Operations, is proud of the end result and the team responsible for achieving it. “This is an example of how building mutually rewarding relationships—while operating with an uncompromising focus on safe, reliable, and responsible facilities—delivers positive outcomes,” he said. “It’s extraordinary how our team and the community worked together, with environmental outcomes front of mind.”

Studies indicate the rehabbed mine site has higher levels of structural, floristic, and faunal diversity than the neighboring state forest. This demonstrates innovative mine planning, extensive stakeholder engagement, and an unwavering focus on excellent environmental outcomes. Additionally, this project has achieved the proposed future land use outcomes, including conservation of biological, physical, cultural, and landscape values. All told, a shining example of industry excellence, innovation and showcasing the positive impact a mining operation can have when industry and community work together.