Browns Range Rare Earth Project

Project
Proponent
Northern Minerals Limited
Proposal description

A proposed rare earth elements (REE) mine and ore processing facility at Browns Range, approximately 160 kilometres (km) southeast of Halls Creek in the Shire of Halls Creek.

Proposal Content Document
Proposal Content Document April 2026.pdf (PDF, 773.2 KB)
Assessment Number
1973
Region
Kimberley
Referred under EP Act
s38
Industry sector
Rare earth elements
Last updated
Current Status
Ministerial Statement published
1. Referral
Comment on this referral
Browns Range Project - Mining and Processing of Rare Earth Minerals
Referral documentation
Referral Form (PDF, 2.29 MB)
Supporting Information Document (PDF, 8.61 MB)
2. Decision on whether to assess this proposal
Chair's Determination
Assess - Assessment on Proponent Information - Category A
Extract of determination
Chairman's Determination - Browns Range Rare Earth Project (PDF, 147.41 KB)
Preliminary Environmental Factors
Flora and Vegetation
Subterranean Fauna
Terrestrial Fauna
Inland Waters Environmental Quality
Date published
4. EPA Report on assessment
EPA Report Number
1523
EPA Report
Report 1523 - Browns Range Rare Earths Project (PDF, 2.54 MB)
Proponent documents
Browns Range API document (PDF, 6.72 MB)
Appendix A - Browns Range Environmental Scoping Guideline (PDF, 3.81 MB)
Appendix B - Baseline hydrogeology report (main report) (PDF, 746.32 KB)
Appendix B - Baseline hydrogeology report-AppA-figures (PDF, 17.63 MB)
Appendix B - Baseline hydrogeology report-AppB-drill logs (PDF, 621.74 KB)
Appendix B - Baseline hydrogeology report-AppC-groundwater quality (PDF, 558.99 KB)
Appendix B - Baseline hydrogeology report-AppsD-I (PDF, 41.66 MB)
Appendix C - Waste rock geochemical characterisation (PDF, 1.19 MB)
Appendix D - Preliminary tailings design report (PDF, 1.54 MB)
Appendix E - Laboratory report geotechnical testing of Browns Range tailings (PDF, 4.04 MB)
Appendix F1 - Baseline soil and landform assessment (PDF, 7.48 MB)
Appendix F2 - Analogue slopes soil and vegetation assessment (PDF, 1.91 MB)
Appendix G - Preliminary tailings geochemical assessment (PDF, 1.39 MB)
Appendix H - Water supply model (PDF, 8.95 MB)
Appendix I - Surface hydrology and flood assessment (PDF, 2.94 MB)
Appendix J - Flora and vegetation impact assessment (PDF, 19.48 MB)
Appendix K - Terrestrial vertebrate fauna assessment (PDF, 18.87 MB)
Appendix L1 - SRE invertebrate baseline survey (PDF, 5.27 MB)
Appendix L2 - Targeted Mygalomorph spider survey (PDF, 4.42 MB)
Appendix L3 - SRE invertebrate assessment (PDF, 12.94 MB)
Appendix M - Subterranean fauna assessment (PDF, 7.55 MB)
Appendix N1 - Air quality impact assessment (PDF, 4.69 MB)
Appendix N2 - Data from air quality assessment (ZIP, 5.28 MB)
Appendix O - Noise assessment (PDF, 913.33 KB)
Appendix P1 - Draft Mine Rehabilitation and Closure Plan (PDF, 4.17 MB)
Appendix P2 - Pit lake assessment (PDF, 11.91 MB)
Appendix P3 - Preliminary pit lake ecotoxicity assessment (PDF, 1.11 MB)
Appendix P4 - Pit lake fauna impact assessment (PDF, 595.89 KB)
Appendix P5 - Preliminary cover assessment (PDF, 8.69 MB)
Appendix P6 - Preliminary erosion assessment (PDF, 4.17 MB)
Appendix Q1 - Radiological assessment of tailings (PDF, 493.5 KB)
Appendix Q2 - Radiation Technical Report (PDF, 1.03 MB)
Appendix R - Environmental offsets report (PDF, 168.31 KB)
Appendix S1 - Spatial data - Exclusion zone (ZIP, 8.34 KB)
Appendix S2 - Spatial data - Footprint (ZIP, 428.43 KB)
Key Environmental Factors
Flora and Vegetation
Terrestrial Fauna
Inland Waters Environmental Quality
Date published
Appeals close
5. Decision on proposal and implementation of proposal
Ministerial Statement
Date of approval
Ministerial Statement
Ministerial Statement 986_0.pdf (PDF, 3.49 MB)
Post-assessment changes
s. 45C amendments

Attachment 1 to Ministerial Statement 986 - Revise the development envelope boundaries; and update Figures and reference to coordinates - change to proposal approved under section 45C on 12 April 2017.

Attachment 2 to Ministerial Statement 986 - Installation and operation of an Ore Sorting Circuit, resulting in higher radionuclide concentrations in sorted ore, intermediate process streams and the long-term storage of low-level radioactive waste (tailings). Change to proposal approved under section 45C on 4 September 2020.

Attachment 3 to Ministerial Statement 986 - Increase the disturbance footprint from 711 ha to 771 ha (8.4% increase) and an increase in the development envelope from 2,590 ha to 4,384 ha. Realignment of the development envelope and expansion of the borefield. Change to proposal approved under section 45C on 26 August 2024.

Attachment 4 to Ministerial Statement 986 - Inclusion of an alternative access road.  Increase in the development envelope from 4,384 ha to 4,753 ha (8.4% increase)  Increase in the disturbance footprint from 771 ha to 841 ha (9.1% increase). Change to proposal approved under section 45C on 24 April 2026.

Attachments
s. 45c Attachment 3 - Notice and Summary of Reasons.pdf (PDF, 269.68 KB)
s. 45c Attacment 4 - Notice and Summary of Reasons.pdf (PDF, 195.86 KB)
Date of approval s. 45C
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