2025 Golden Gecko recipients
BiSN – Alternative means of compliance using Bismuth Based Alloys for well plug and abandonment.
BiSN’s wel-lok™ technology directly contributes to long-term environmental protection by delivering permanent gas-tight barriers during the well abandonment process. The barriers prevent future hydrocarbon migration, eliminate potential leak paths and allow operators and regulators to proceed with full land and seabed rehabilitation.
On Thevenard Island the technology was used to seal more than a dozen legacy wells, some over 30 years old, as part of Chevron’s decommissioning program. On Barrow Island, a Class A nature reserve and World Heritage listed area, BiSN tools were deployed during the phased decommissioning of hundreds of inactive wells.
BHP – Yandi Seed Production Area.
The Yandi native seed project trialled a large-scale native Seed Production Area (SPA) at the Yandi mine site in the Pilbara. The 3.5 hectare trial involved preparation of the Yandi mine site, irrigation and the sowing of Triodia across dedicated plots.
While SPA is used globally, this represents the first scaled initiative of its kind in the Pilbara. Initial results have been promising. From a sowing rate of two million seeds per hectare, the first harvest delivered a yield of approximately 26 million seeds per hectare. The site functions as a living trial to assess cultivation techniques and support future restoration work.
The project is part of the Banjima Land Rehabilitation Partnership, a collaboration between BHP and the Banjima Native Aboriginal Title Corporation.
Award recipients in previous years
| Year | Golden Gecko Award | Certificate of Merit |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Flora Restorer: sowing a diverse ecosystem, Iluka Resources Limited | Ludlow Tuart Forest Post – Mining Rehabilitation, Tronox Mining Australia Ltd |
| 2021 | Agnew Hybrid Renewable Project, Gold Fields Australia and EDL | Lake Kepwari, Premier Coal |
| 2019 | The DeGrussa Solar Project, Sandfire Resources NL | |
| 2018 | Chasing Ghosts - Understanding Ghost Bat Ecology in the Pilbara, BHP Iron Ore The State-Wide Array Surveillance Program – WA Port Authorities and Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development | Alcoa and Murdoch University Partnership Eradicates Biological Bulldozer Phytophthora Dieback, Alcoa of Australia |
| 2017 | Banksia Woodlands - A Restoration Guide for the Swan Coastal Plain, Hanson Construction Materials and Kings Park Botanic Gardens | Venturi Reverse Circulation Drilling Waste Removal System, Rio Tinto Iron Ore Utilising Mining Technology for the Tracking and Management of Rehabilitation Materials, Roy Hill Holdings |
| 2016 | APA Group / Kingfisher Environmental Consulting Strike Drilling Pty Ltd | Roy Hill Infrastructure Pty Ltd |
| 2015 | Chevron Australia | Pilbara Mesquite Management Committee Inc St Barbara Limited |
| 2014 | Franmarine Underwater Services Pty Ltd and Department of Fisheries | Geo Oceans Pty Ltd |
| 2013 | ESS Support Services and AshOil | Franmarine Limited and Department of Fisheries |
| 2012 | Pendoley Environmental Pty Ltd | Argyle Diamonds Limited |
| 2011 | WorleyParsons / Port Hedland Port Authority | ATCO Gas Australia / KD1 Compass Group (Australia) |
| 2010 | Crosslands Resources Pluton Resources | Cliffs Asia Pacific Iron Ore Rio Tinto Iron Ore |
| 2009 | Woodside Sodexo Remote Sites | St Barbara |
| 2008 | Minara Resources HIsmelt Operations Botanic Garden and Parks Authority / Rocla | Rio Tinto Iron Ore |
| 2007 | Alcoa of Australia | AngloGold Ashanti |
| 2006 | Jo Jo Plastics / Ruggies Recycling Sons of Gwalia | Alcoa of Australia Alcoa of Australia |
| 2005 | BP Refinery Wesfarmerss Premier Coal | Woodside Energy BHP Billiton and URS Australia |
| 2004 | Newmont Browzewing Operations BHP Billiton / CSIRO | ARC Energy Woodside Energy BHP Billiton |
| 2003 | Apache Energy Barrick Gold of Australia Beenup Consultative Group | Barrick Gold of Australia / Outback Ecology / University of Western Australia Robe River Iron Associates Wesfarmers Premier Coal Woodside Energy |
| 2002 | Alcoa World Alumina Australia Esperance Port Authority LionOre Australia | Simcoa Operations / Sally Robinson from Strategic Environmental Solutions Woodside Energy Newmont (Encouragement Award) |
| 2001 | Homestake Gold of Australia Woodside Energy | Victor Dale Plutonic Gold Mine (Homestake) |
| 2000 | Placer (Granny Smith) Cockburn Cement Alcoa World Alumina Australia Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority | North Mining / Westralian Diamond Drillers Barrow Island Coastal Care Group |
| 1999 | Placer (Granny Smith) Westralian Sands Epic Energy | Anaconda Operations Princess Margaret Hospital |
| 1998 | Perilya Mines NL Mobil Exploration & Producing Australia Hamersley Iron | Resolute Hamersley Iron Placer (Granny Smith) |
| 1997 | Botanic Garden and Parks Authority Lindsay Stockdale BHP Petroleum | Mt Morgan's Gold Mine Resolute / Titan Resources Argyle Diamond Robe River Iron Associates Australian Resources / Arimco |
| 1996 | Rod Mitchell's Transport and Exploration Services Alcoa Harry Butler | Dominion Mining |
| 1995 | BHP Petroleum Arimco Mining Hamersley Iron | Worsley Alumina |
| 1994 | CSR Readymix Rally Revegetation Services | WAPET |
| 1993 | BHP Iron Ore Western Mining Corporation Woodside Western Mining Corporation | Hadson Energy CSR Readymix |
| 1992 | Normandy Poseidon CRA Exploration Alcoa Hadson Energy WAPET | WAPET Forsayth Mining Services Robe River Iron Associates BHP Iron Ore Pancontinental Mining |
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