The proposal is to source marine sands from Cambridge Gulf, north of Wyndham in northeast Western Australia, for export to overseas construction projects.
The proposal is a vessel-based marine operation with a lifespan of up to 15 years. It does not involve the construction and operation of any shore-based facilities. The operation will involve a Sand Production Vessel (SPV) based generally on the design of a large Trailer Suction Hopper Dredger (TSHD).
The proposed operational area (POA) is located in the central part of the main body of the Cambridge Gulf (CG), covering an area of approximately 100 km2.
The SPV will self-load sand in CG for one or two days every two weeks, which is 52 days per year, or 14% of the year for operation.
It is proposed to export up to 70 million m3 of sand for the 15-year project timeframe.
