Sustainability

Sustainability is critical at every level of our business and operation

WMS Group supports the Sustainable Development Goals, and align particularly with the following; 8 [Decent Work & Economic Growth], 9 [Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure], 13 [Climate Action], 14 [Life Below Water], 15 [Life on Land], 17 [Partnerships for the Goals], through local initiatives that contribute to addressing emerging global challenges.

Climate Response

WMS Group takes its duty to understand and mitigate our contributions to climate change by looking for ways to reduce emissions in our business and our supply chain. Our practices include:

Transition to Renewable Energy

We have converted our first processing facility to run on electricity sourced from New Zealand’s 87 percent renewable energy network, saving 500,000 litres of diesel annually.

Operational Efficiency

Through continuous improvements and infrastructure upgrades, we are optimising our processes to minimise our disturbance and reduce our intensity.

Exploring Sustainable Transport Solutions

We consider transport opportunities to provide more sustainable outcomes on an ongoing basis. Our goal is to deliver our product from local ports direct to sea-going bulk carriers, further reducing our reliance on road transport and lowering our overall carbon footprint.

Building resilience on the West Coast

The West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island has long been vulnerable to disruptions caused by extreme weather events, often resulting in road closures. By making the Greymouth and Westport Ports operational again, we are strengthening regional resilience, ensuring that vital supplies remain accessible even during adverse weather conditions or civil defence emergencies. This initiative enhances the ability to transport goods to and from the ports, providing a reliable supply chain and supporting the regions adaptation to climate change.

Nature

At WMS Group, we are committed to nurturing the natural world to ensure resilient and healthy ecosystems for the future. Our environmental stewardship is integral to our operations, and we contribute to the protection of the unique biodiversity of our region.

Biodiversity Protection and Conservation of Native Species

WMS recognises the importance of local habitats for our indigenous fauna, including those of the kororā (Little Blue Penguin) and other native species. Our environmental management strategies are designed to minimise our impact on these ecosystems, with expert consultations and monitoring, including the use of a penguin-tracking dog to identify nesting sites and migration patterns. This has led us to adjust our traffic management plan to avoid disrupting kororā during critical dusk and dawn periods.

Planting and Habitat Enhancement

We are committed to enhancing biodiversity through planting programs, such as creating buffer zones and ecological corridors that support local fauna and flora on our sites. These efforts help build sustainable habitats and protect endangered species.

Water Stewardship

WMS Group undertakes regular water quality testing and monitoring to minimise freshwater use and ensure that no water is released off-site. We prioritise water recycling to preserve local waterways, and we conduct eDNA testing of significant waterways to monitor aquatic life and protect these vital resources.

Improving land-use capability

We are committed to sustainable land management that delivers long-term resilience for our communities and ecosystems.

Progressive Rehabilitation

By progressively rehabilitating the mined area, the disturbance is minimised allowing us to quickly reform the landscape. This ensures that the land is restored to its previous use, often with additional environmental enhancements.

Soil Health and Pasture Monitoring

WMS Group monitors soil health throughout mining, ensuring fertility and structure are understood and well maintained. We return 80% of removed material to the ground and trial different re-grassing methods to restore agricultural productivity in our unique coastal environments.

Enhancing Land Use and Ecological Restoration

Our land management approach emphasises enhancing land-use capability through progressive rehabilitation, ecological protection, and restoration. We aim to maximise the value of disturbed land by adopting a ‘disturb once’ extraction model, optimising resource utilisation while ensuring ecological health.

Long-Term Land Use Planning

We employ in-house expertise to develop long-term land-use plans that balance productive land use with environmental enhancements. This approach includes on-site trials to test optimal pasture establishment after mining, ensuring that the land remains productive for agriculture and other uses.