Newcastle Coal Infrastructure Group (NCIG) has been awarded two highly coveted honours at this year’s NSW Mining Awards, acknowledging their commitment to environmental and workplace health excellence.

Chief Executive Officer, Aaron Johansen said he was proud to receive the awards on behalf of the entire team at NCIG, recognising their approach to environmental management and employee health and wellbeing.

“NCIG’s commitment to meeting our obligations in relation to the environment and the safety of our people is clearly illustrated by these awards,” Aaron said.

“The results we have achieved in these areas showcase the collaborative effort and involvement of our people, community and our stakeholders.

“NCIG has successfully completed the establishment of environmental habitats for both the Green and Golden Bellfrog and migratory bird species on targeted areas of the Lower Hunter Estuary. Breeding of the Green and Golden Bellfrog has been recorded in three successive years and a number of protected migratory bird species, including two that are critically endangered, have been identified within the areas created by NCIG.

“These results have been achieved through the application of sound project planning principles and a collaborative effort with government and non-government stakeholders including specialist ecological experts.”

The NSW Mining Awards also recognised NCIG’s commitment to the health and welfare of its employees, contractors and their families with an award for its Bounce program.

Through a process of regularly assessing the health of NCIG site personnel, NCIG (with the assistance of a specialist health provider, Ethos) has been able to develop a program of initiatives targeted at identified risk factors. These initiatives include weight-loss challenges, stretching programs, functional movement screenings and exercise challenges. The result is that there has been a 12.5 per cent improvement in the health of NCIG employees since the establishment of the Bounce program in 2012. This compares to public health statistics, which illustrate the gradual decline of people’s health with time.

“Our people are obviously our most important asset and our Bounce Program has provided a high focus on this aspect of our business,” Aaron said.

“Through our voluntary health assessments over the past five years, we are able to demonstrate a steady incline in overall health and participation rates in the Bounce program.

“Embedding our values towards the environment, our community and our employees throughout the business is evident in all aspects of what we do.

“I see how proud our employees are of the business they helped to build; these two awards truly are a reflection of their dedication and hard work.”

NCIG owns and operates one of Australia’s major coal export terminals.

IMAGE |Minister Don Harwin MLC; Aaron Johansen (NCIG); Nathan Juchau (NCIG); and Stephen Galiliee (NSW Minerals Council) at the NSW Mining Awards.