Socially Responsible
Embracing Sustainable Mining Practices to Nurture Long-Term Success
We embrace social responsibility and sustainable development as keys to the long-term success of our company. Our commitment to all stakeholders is to act responsibly and proactively on environmental, social and health and safety issues, while providing economic benefits to the surrounding communities and delivering an appropriate rate of return for our shareholders.
In early 2008, we ventured into a new jurisdiction, Australia, and welcomed two new operations into our mining portfolio. From the onset, we endeavoured to build and enhance relationships within the local communities, striving to be a positive force within the areas surrounding the Fosterville and Stawell Gold mines.
Both mines are significant economic contributors to their surrounding regions. They provide direct employment, support for local service industries and allocate community grants to various recipients. We keep local and surrounding residents informed of our operations through public visitations, community meetings and regular newsletter updates. Community representatives also make up membership of our Environmental Review Committees, along with various government regulators and representatives from each mine.
A demonstration of our commitment to social responsibility is our recent involvement in providing relief to those impacted by the devastating bush fires in the state of Victoria. These fires left thousands to cope with the loss of their homes, possessions and loved ones. To assist in this cause, both the company and our employees have made donations to local organizations to help with the rebuilding effort in these communities.
Since Northgate's first step on the Kemess property in 2000, our objective has been to minimize the environmental footprint. We not only monitor the impact of operations during the mining life cycle, but ensure long-term benefits are in place for future generations long after we close our doors. In 2008, we took a significant step forward as we completed the final reclamation on the tailings dam downstream buttress zone. Techniques included slope contouring, placement of previously salvaged growth media and woody debris. We also created micro-sites to enhance reestablishment of a vegetative cover and improve erosion control. This was followed by the planting of 80,000 lodgepole pine and white spruce seedlings, along with sprigs of arctic lupine and willow.
Other reclamation activities included a seed collection program undertaken by local First Nations employees and our environmental staff who gathered over 60,000 lodgepole pine seeds, 40,000 arctic lupine seeds, and fireweed and local grass seeds. A portion of these native seeds will be used for 2009 planting, establishment of a seed crop, and other reclamation research programs. Reclamation in 2009 will also focus on resloping, growth media placement, and “rough and loose” surface expression to reduce erosion and promote ingress of native plant growth.
