Clermont Mine recognised with industry award

Pictured: Andrew Gotley, of Wirtgen Australia (award sponsor) with Clermont Mine superintendent Kristie Strano, RTCA general manager – External Relations Fiona Nicholls and Clermont Mine operator Anna Paget collect the highly commended award.

Rio Tinto Coal Australia’s newest mine, the Clermont Mine, has been recognised for its efforts in recruiting women with no mining experience for mobile equipment operator roles.

Clermont Mine received the “Highly Commended” award in the Coal Mine of the Year category in the Australian Mining Prospect Awards in Sydney in November.

It is the second year in a row that an RTCA mine has been honoured in the prestigious category, with Hail Creek Mine awarded “Coal Mine of the Year” last year.

Clermont Mine general manager construction Dave Lamb said the high commendation was largely based on the mine’s proactive recruitment programme to attract women without mining experience into non-traditional roles – which earlier this year earned the operation the annual Resources Award for Women - Best Company Initiative, awarded by the Queensland Resources Council.

“Clermont Mine won’t start uncovering coal until 2010, so for us to win this award recognises that we’ve been taking all the right steps so far, as we near the point of becoming a fully operational mine next year,” Dave said.

“We are very pleased with what we have been achieving for women at our mine, as today women make up more than 27 per cent of Clermont Mine's workforce, which is better than the initial target of 25 per cent that we set ourselves, and is also well above the Queensland industry average of 11 per cent.

“We are working hard to improve the diversity of our workforce, including Indigenous men and women, which is a very strong goal for RTCA.

“What we’re doing in the area of female recruitment is a continuous effort. This work is ongoing.”

Coal & Allied was a finalist in the Excellence in Environmental Management Award, while Mount Thorley Warkworth was a finalist for the Coal Mine of the Year Award and the Australian Mine of the Year awards. RTCA was recognised as a finalist for Australian Mining Employer of Choice Award, and Clermont Mine was also a finalist in Australian Mine of the Year.