Health & Safety
Lochard Energy is committed to providing a safe working environment for all personnel at our workplace. The Iona Gas Plant is a major hazard facility and maintains a risk-based safety management system, approved by WorkSafe Victoria for the site.
Our Performance
Lochard Energy’s safety record at Iona is very strong and demonstrates our safety culture. Lochard Energy holds safety as its number one priority and has set a target of zero significant incidents and injuries (measured as Total Injury Frequency Rate). This is achieved through proactive and systematic management of risk and our sustained commitment to health and safety. Lochard Energy’s procedures were developed in accordance with the International Safety Standard (ISO18001).
Project SafeX was established in 2016 following an external review of Process Safety and Asset Integrity. Project SafeX has delivered improved dashboard reporting, updated safety critical documentation, improved staff training programs and competency and a step change in maintenance and inspection strategies.
Environment
Lochard Energy recognises the responsibility and accountability for health, safety, social responsibility and environment lies with every executive, manager, employee and contractor, and this responsibility forms an integral part of our leadership and management of all tasks at every level of the organisation.
Our performance
Lochard Energy has an integrated management system which guides stewardship of the operations and includes an Environmental Management Plan which is regularly reviewed and updated. The Plan aligns to International Standard ISO14001 requirements and is approved by the Victorian Government.
The Iona facility has been designed and constructed to minimise impact on the environment. Rainwater is captured and reused on site and no town or bore water is used. Produced water is re-injected under license into the Waare formation reservoir for the purpose of aquifer recharge. Ground water sampling takes place on a monthly and quarterly basis and an annual report is given to Southern Rural Water.
Storm water from process areas is collected and any contaminants are separated and treated biologically in the primary holding ponds which utilise vegetation as a natural filtration system.
The treated water is then discharged into the wetlands system where the other site surface water naturally drains. Discharge is monitored to ensure neighbouring dams are not affected and the results are reported tri-annually to the independently chaired Community Liaison Committee.
Monitoring of air emissions is conducted periodically throughout the year. Site emissions are measured using National Environment and Energy Guidelines and reported to the Government annually. Results can be accessed on the National Pollutant Inventory and National Greenhouse Energy Reporting websites.
A baseline study of flora and fauna and cultural heritage was conducted in 1998 as part of the site selection prior to the development of the Iona site. Large numbers of native plantings have been made since the site was first developed to improve the landscape and provide shelter. Major corridor plantings were undertaken in 2000 and 2009 to establish a vegetation buffer.
Waste management is a focus of the site and a site Waste Management Plan is in place which focuses on segregation and recycling to reduce the quantity of waste which goes to landfill.
Community
Lochard Energy is committed to operating our sites and business responsibility whilst respecting and engaging our neighbours and the local communities we operate in.
Our performance
Lochard Energy has an active stakeholder engagement program. All stakeholders and their interests in Lochard and our operations are considered in the annual planning of our engagement.
Emergency response exercises are held on site to ensure the site is prepared for an incident or emergency which might impact the wider community. The exercise involves both local emergency services and our industrial neighbours for coordination and support.
Community sponsorship is a longheld tradition and our focus is on the community around Iona. Initiatives supported align to our values with the priority areas being education, health and wellbeing and community development.
We sponsor a number of sporting clubs including the Iona Cup, which is a competition between Nirranda and Timboon Football and Netball Clubs.
Sponsorship
Each year we support a number of organisations, schools, sporting clubs and events in Southwest Victoria. Our principles for giving are contained in our Stakeholder Management Plan and summarised below:
- Lochard will support activities that provide solutions to local challenges and opportunities in the communities around our operations and areas our employees live in. This is defined as being within a 50km radius of the Iona, which includes the townships of Port Campbell, Peterborough, Warrnambool, Timboon, Camperdown, Colac, Simpson and Princetown. We see this as the best way to build sustainable and meaningful relationships with these communities for mutual benefit.
- Lochard places a strong emphasis on supporting initiatives which help local organisations develop the skills and resources to bring positive and lasting benefits to the community. We do this by providing funding and support that can make a difference without creating dependencies. We make sure that any organisation we support has plans to be financially and operationally sustainable in the long-term, without our support.
- Lochard will provide funding to initiatives in one or more of the following priority areas only. These are aligned to Lochard’s Values. The priority areas are:
o Education – encompassing activities supporting childhood, adult and indigenous specific education activities with a focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths)
o Health and well-being which encompasses all activities supporting physical and mental health
o Community Development prioritising the support for activities that enrich community life and enhance the social, environmental and economic sustainability of local communities
Minimum Criteria for Support
All initiatives or organisations supported by our businesses must meet the following minimum criteria for support:
- Be reputable with a positive track record and solid governance
- Are compatible with our company Values
- Be secular and predominantly concerned with providing services to the community
- Not be affiliated with a political party
- Be prepared to publicly acknowledge our support
Please click on link to download form | Application form for sponsorship
Send applications to: ionaenquiries@lochardenergy.com.au
