Our People
At Peak Gold Mines, we are committed to promoting and protecting the welfare of our employees through safety-first work practices and workplaces and ongoing staff training. Our Health, Safety & Training Department focuses on proactive safety measures including hazard reporting, safe-act observations, corrective action completions and training audits. In addition we seek to prevent occupational injuries through exercise programs, information on workstation setup, and other support programs.
Our Community
We maintain a strong and positive relationship with the local community of Cobar. Peak employees serve as members of the local Fire Brigades and State Emergency Services and play key roles in various local associations, including serving on the Cobar Enterprise Facilitation Board, Cobar Water Board and the local Emergency Management Committee. We support a large range of local organizations, in the form of monetary donations and in-kind support. We host an annual community meeting and an Open Day at the mine, where hundreds of visitors are welcomed.
Our policies reflect our commitment to ensuring the sustainability of the town after mining in the district has ceased. To that end, Peak has been instrumental in establishing Cobar Enterprise Facilitation, which supports entrepreneurship as a strategy for diversifying the local economic base.
Pollution Incident Community Response Plan
Our Environment
At Peak we are committed to implementing our five waste management principles: reduce, reuse, recycle, recover and dispose. Following these principles, our aim is to reduce the total amount of waste sent to a landfill as a consequence of our operations. Reusing and recycling waste materials like metals, batteries, oil, grease, tires, e-waste (computer and other electronics), as well as general recycling (paper, cardboard, plastic, glass) help Peak move towards this target.
At Peak, we practice progressive reclamation of mined lands. Our leased areas include many historically mined areas for which we are responsible, and committed to rehabilitating to a condition that is safe and in keeping with the local surroundings. Rehabilitation has been undertaken at a number of these historic sites and represents our commitment to continuously improving our practices and outcomes.
Peak uses cyanide for mineral processing and we practice continual vigilance in its storage, management and use. A preliminary audit against the International Cyanide Management Code (ICMC) has been completed. We expect to achieve certification by 2013.
Peak realizes the importance of protecting our land and environment, which is why we have broken down our focus into these main areas: water, land, air, vibration and noise.
- Water
- We are committed to strong environmental performance within a prosperous Cobar region. Our semi-arid location puts an emphasis on efficient water management, and stringent water saving and recycling measures. Recycled water from our operations accounts for approximately 85% of the water pumped from underground, and plans are in place to further improve water management measures and practices. Our dry-stack Tailings Storage Facility also provides water savings measures as well as safety benefits.
Current Surface Water Data (CSV)
- Land
- At Peak, we have many historically mined areas on our leases for which we are responsible in terms of community safety and minimizing environmental impacts. We are committed to leaving those areas in a condition that is not only safer for the public but also in an overall improved state in-keeping with surrounding land wherever possible. For any land disturbed by Peak, all care is taken to ensure that rehabilitation materials are preserved for the end of mining and that the land is returned to an agreed land use.
- Air
- We are committed to being energy efficient and reducing our greenhouse gas emissions through education, monitoring, target setting and consideration of energy efficiencies during project and procurement activities.
Current Air Data (CSV)
- Vibration and Noise
- In 2011, noise monitoring at Peak was upgraded. Sound and vibration levels are continually monitored, and any noise or vibration that exceeds the defined maximum levels is recorded. Limits are set by the Australian Environmental Protection Authority and our results are reported annually, and we are required to report any breaches of our licence. In 2011, no recorded vibration levels exceeded these limits
Current Vibration Data (CSV)
Current Noise Data (CSV)