environment
Footprint
Port Waratah works to create a positive environmental footprint that measures demand against the capacity of the natural resources and environment we operate in.
Waste
We seek to improve resource efficiency through improved waste management practices, with an active focus on recycling and landfill diversion.
We use a simple process to continuously improve waste management by source segregating various waste streams; encouraging waste minimisation across operations, contractors, and suppliers; taking action to divert waste from landfill; and pursuing recycling opportunities to improve resource efficiency, reduce environmental footprint and increase participation in the circular economy.
Our team continues to improve the management of problematic waste materials, pursuing opportunities to eliminate, or reduce the generation of certain waste types, or establish re-use and recycling opportunities.
Potable Water Consumption
We continuously improve water efficiency and reduce our potable water consumption.
Water is critical to our daily operations. To create a sustainable use of water, runoff from operational water use as well as rainfall is harvested within the operational catchments of our Carrington and Kooragang terminals and stored in our water management system. This stored water is used preferentially for operational and dust management activities.
If there is insufficient water onsite for reuse, we top-up our system with potable water purchased from Hunter Water, a State-owned utility. This is recaptured and reused up to five times, with Port Waratah’s objective to continually improve water efficiency year-on-year and reduce the overall volume of potable water used for operational purposes.
Weather and water use
Our potable water consumption is heavily affected by rainfall (stormwater capture), weather conditions and seasonal variations that impact our process and availability of stored water.
In periods of lower rainfall and warmer temperatures, there is a reduction in harvestable stormwater and recirculated water in our water management system. If this occurs, we review our consumption trends, and work collaboratively with Hunter Water through developed Water Efficiency Management Plans (WEMP) for each of our terminals to identify and implement improvement actions for greater water efficiency.
In 2020, we reviewed several operational aspects of our water management system and adjusted how and when water is stored and transferred in the system. This significantly increased the efficient reuse of water at the Carrington Terminal and in 2021, Port Waratah received the Love Water, Love Business Award at the Hunter Business Awards.
Results showed a 50 per cent reduction in potable water consumption at the terminal compared to the previous three-year average, highlighting the significant water management and efficiency improvements totalling an investment of more than $21 million in system upgrades at the terminal since 2016.
Land use and biodiversity
We minimise our impact on our environment while recognising biodiversity values by locating our Terminals in precincts of significant industrial history and adjacent to areas of equally significant ecological importance.
Immediately adjacent to the 2.1km2 Kooragang Terminal is the Hunter Wetlands National Park and the internationally recognised Hunter Estuary Wetlands Ramsar site. The wetland supports 45 species of migratory birds listed under international agreements and 112 species of waterbirds, as well as other wildlife such as the endangered Green and Golden Bell Frog population.
Biodiversity Management Plan
We conduct regular assessments to update our management plans and document biodiversity values within, and surrounding, our site boundaries. Our Biodiversity Management Plan manages our day-to-day biodiversity activities, outlining general land management practices including weed, pest and erosion control, landscaping and wildlife management.
Land Management strategies
Our Land Management strategies incorporate all managed sites, enhancing areas of biodiverse value within our boundaries. Weed management at Port Waratah focuses on regionally strategic weed species, such as Pampas grass, Groundsel bush and Lantana.
Land Use strategies
These strategies aim to improve land use efficiency for operational activities, recognising and enhancing the ecological diversity inside and surrounding our operations.
Land use and biodiversity infographic
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