Golden Gecko Awards previous recipients

2026 Golden Gecko recipients

Bellevue Gold – Net zero and renewable power at Bellevue gold mine<\/strong>

Located in WA’s Northern Goldfields, this project integrates renewable energy, electrification and operational practices to reduce and then offset all direct and indirect emissions at the Bellevue gold mine. 

This is achieved by utilising a hybrid power system combining solar, wind and battery storage. Combined with a unique refining agreement with the ABC Refinery and Single Mine Origin certification, this enables the production of fully traceable, responsibly sourced green gold that can be marketed worldwide.

The project continues to reduce emissions and reliance on diesel and LNG, ultimately challenging the traditional methods of mining and downstream sales.

Hancock Iron Ore – Roy Hill’s progressive approach to rehabilitation at scale

Since construction commenced in 2012, rehabilitation and closure has been embedded into operational planning, making progressive rehabilitation a core part of daily operations rather than deferring it to the end of mine life.

Approximately 1,100 hectares has been rehabilitated at the mine and 2,100 hectares has been rehabilitated along the rail component. Monitoring shows many areas have met, or are trending towards, completion criteria for vegetation, soil and erosion metrics.

Since October 2020, Roy Hill has maintained a dedicated on-site rehabilitation team, supported by leadership accountability, annual business KPIs and an adaptive monitoring framework. 

The program is further strengthened by collaboration with Native Title representatives and the engagement of Guma, a 100 per cent Nyiyaparli-owned business, to undertake large-scale rehabilitation works while building local capability. 

The program reflects a sustained commitment to environmental excellence through dedicated people, systems and resources.

Iluka Resources Ltd – Conserving a wetland while mining

The project preserved a rare wetland ecosystem at Tutunup South, which involved using vegetation direct transfer to extract and relocate an intact one-hectare wetland to an on-site nursery. The wetland was maintained for 10 years then reinstalled once mining was complete and the site’s hydrology was restored. 

As a result, a priority ecological community was conserved and returned to its original location with measured success (for example, the area of Cyathochaeta teretifolia, a rare plant species that grows in this wetland, was doubled). The wetland is now protected under a conservation covenant that provides long-term security for this habitat. 

This project demonstrated how foresight, innovative techniques and planning of long-term environmental commitments allow conservation and mining to coexist.

Highly Commended BHP – “Finish and Fill” Progressive Closure Strategy

BHP has developed a Finish and Fill strategy at its Western Australia Iron Ore (WAIO) operations that maximises opportunities to backfill open pits so they are progressively “finished” and then “filled”. This approach reduces the need for external overburden storage areas, minimising land disturbance, rehabilitation requirements, truck hours, labour hours and diesel consumption. 

In FY26, 39 per cent of all waste moved across WAIO, approximately 149 million tonnes, was backfilled into mined-out pits rather than placed on previously undisturbed land. By returning waste to mined-out pits, WAIO avoided creating approximately 123 hectares of new disturbance during FY26. 

The strategy reduces future closure liabilities, limits the need for large external waste landforms, improves long-term safety outcomes and supports responsible land stewardship across the Pilbara.

To find out more about the awards and how to apply, please visit the Golden Gecko Award page.

Award recipients in previous years