Environment
Jabiru Metals (JML) is committed to minimising adverse environmental impacts at all stages of its operations and believes that the long term viability of its operations is dependant on continuous improvement of its environmental management plans and activities. JML operates under an established Environmental Management Plan (EMP) which identifies potential environmental risks from the company’s activities and describes strategies for mitigating and minimising those risks.
JML developed an “Environmental Monitoring Plan” (JEMP) addressing all site monitoring requirements and commitments, including groundwater SWL & quality, TSF vegetation health, rehabilitation and closure photo monitoring, bioremediation and AMD soil analysis, rare and priority flora and fauna, as well as, internal environmental audit and compliance. These documents are reviewed annually, and amendments will continue to be based on ‘best practice’ information and practices.
JML has in operation an effective recycling and waste management programme. Printer cartridges are dispatched for recycling, and all scrap metal is transported offsite for recycling. All types of metal including the rock bolts, drill rods and steel mesh from underground have been recycled since April 2007. Jaguar and Bentley sites have also commenced recycling glass and aluminium cans and participate in the non-for-profit “Ruggies” recycling scheme, benefiting the children of Princess Margaret Hospital. It is intended that recycling will be expanded to include waste cardboard, paper, plastics, wooden pallets and ‘poly’ pipe.
Hydrocarbon waste is removed and recycled offsite by used oil company (Wren Oil), or treated in a new Bioremediation facility for onsite remediation of contaminated soils and some organic absorbents.
Extensive surveys, seed collection and germination and propagation trials have resulted in the former priority 1 flora species Phyllanthus baeckeoides (Teutonic Boronia) being ‘downgraded’ to a less critical priority 3.
The discovery of adults and tadpoles of the ‘little desert tree frog’, Litoria rubella, in local creek-lines several hundred kilometres south of its previously known distribution was a significant record and provides testament and incentive to JML’s dedication to protecting the sensitive vegetation, surface & groundwater quality, and consequently native fauna of its operational areas.