The DMPE Resource Sector Awards for Excellence were held on 30 October, where MEPAU’s rehabilitation of the Woodada Gas Field was recognised under the Rehabilitation Spotlight category as one of four industry projects demonstrating outstanding environmental excellence.

The Woodada Gas Field, which produced commercially between 1982 and 2010 before being shut in, has been the focus of MEPAU’s progressive decommissioning and rehabilitation program since its acquisition as part of the AWE takeover. To date, eight of the 15 petroleum wells have been safely plugged and abandoned, and most surface infrastructure has been removed.

As part of its rehabilitation efforts, MEPAU has focused on environmental restoration, actively restoring disturbed areas using approximately 180 kilograms of seed collected from keystone species across the broader region. These seeds have been used to re-vegetate around 25 hectares of land, with emerging vegetation now beginning to mirror the nearby Lake Logue Nature Reserve — an area celebrated for its rich biodiversity and importance as a wetland habitat for birdlife.

This recognition highlights MEPAU’s ongoing commitment to responsible resource management and environmental stewardship across its operations.

Pictured above: Representing MEPAU at the ceremony – Mark Royle, Lara Centa, Melanie Camilleri, Emma Curnow and Kris Waddington.

The Woodada Gas Field, undergoing decommissioning and rehabilitation work.