Environmental efforts up for golden gong

Southern Ports’ innovative environmental efforts and waste minimisation during its $10.6 million Berth 2 hardstand renewal at the Port of Esperance has seen it named a finalist in the Golden Gecko Award for Environmental Excellence.

The port authority was announced as one of 15 finalists in the 2025 Resources Award for Excellence program which is hosted by the Department of Mines, Petroleum and Exploration.

The project involved installing an innovative filtration system that removes dissolved contaminants, such as ammonia, collected in rainwater washing across the berth as well as repurposing 4,100m³ of materials – largely remnants from the demolition of the old hardstand – into aggregate to create a better suited base for port laydown areas.

Southern Ports Acting Chief Executive Officer Virginia Wilson said innovative lateral thinking was the key to repurposing construction waste from landfill which ultimately created cost savings and an increase in capacity of trade.

“Sustainability is at the forefront of our minds and so too is how we can improve and care for our infrastructure and assets,” said Ms Wilson. “Our team approached this project knowing that just because the materials were no longer fit-for-purpose in the hardstand did not mean they were no longer of use.

“We’re pleased to be recognised as a finalist in this prestigious awards program which demonstrates our commitment to excellence and caring for the environment that we live, work and play in.”

The new stormwater treatment system prevents harmful contaminants from being washed into the ocean by rain events and is the first-of-its-kind installed at a WA port, and only the second in Australia. 

Effective use of the system has been shown to remove up to 80 per cent of ammonia contaminants from stormwater and has enabled the Port of Esperance to increase its licencing capacity to import more fertiliser.

“The project provided us the opportunity to repurpose construction waste, improve our stormwater quality and increase our fertiliser trade capacity.” 

The hardstand renewal project was completed in 2023 and was a rare opportunity for Southern Ports.

Last year Southern Ports’ Port of Esperance facilitated more than 8.2 million tonnes of trade including a record 305,000 tonnes of fertiliser.

Port of Esperance is a trade gateway for a variety of commodities including copper, sulphur, spodumene, iron ore, grain and woodchips.

The 2025 Resources Award for Excellence including the Golden Gecko Award for Environmental Excellence will be presented on 30 October.

For more information on the finalists and the awards program visit https://www.wa.gov.au/government/announcements/finalists-announced-2025-resources-sector-awards-excellence