Water use

Freshwater use at our Queensland operations fell significantly compared with 2008, largely as a result of sufficient water reserves on site to meet demand. With sufficient water reserves there was a reduction in the need to extract water from external sources.

Freshwater use at our New South Wales operations increased compared with 2008. This increase is largely the result of a change in the way we account for water at our operations which involves including any rainfall that is captured and stored for use on site as per our Queensland operations.

Our operations received significant rainfall early in the year which resulted in the controlled release of water from Hunter Valley Operations, Mount Thorley Warkworth, Bengalla and Hail Creek Mine.

In 2009, 55 per cent of the total water used by our operations was recycled water.

*Clermont project is not currently included in this data, pending its transition to operating phase.