Project Proponent Leslie Salt Proposal description The proposal is to expand an existing salt mining operation by constructing a new primary concentration pond (which would lie outside the existing mining leases) and additional brine, bitterns and crystallization ponds within the existing leases. The current operation is located on coastal flats near Port Hedland with the primary concentration ponds 30 km to the east and the brine ponds 10 km to the east connected by an aqueduct. Once the brine is fully saturated it is pumped to crystallisation ponds at the main plant, which is on the outskirts of Port Hedland, for harvesting and trucking to the port for shipment. The current mining operation is regulated by the Leslie Solar Salt Industry Agreement Act which was declared in July 1966, and, under that Act, is regulated by the Mining Act. The present lease expires in 1997, after which two renewals of 21 and 11 years can be negotiated. Assessment Number 376 Region Pilbara Referred under EP Act s38 Industry sector Salt Last updated December 21, 2022 Current Status Ministerial Statement published 2. Decision on whether to assess this proposal Chair's Determination Consultative Environmental Review Date published Friday, March 9, 1990 - 12:00 3. Assessment Scoping Approved Tuesday, March 6, 1990 - 12:00 Environmental Review Environmental Review documentation Consultative Environmental Review document (PDF, 8.41 MB) 4. EPA Report on assessment EPA Report Number 506 EPA Report Leslie Salt project, expansion of ponds, Port Hedland (PDF, 1014.48 KB) Date published Friday, March 22, 1991 - 12:00 5. Decision on proposal and implementation of proposal Ministerial Statement Date of approval Friday, June 21, 1991 - 12:00 Ministerial Statement MS 147.pdf (PDF, 652.42 KB) Post-assessment changes s. 45C amendments Attachment 1 to Statement 147 - Increase in salt production to 3.2 million tonnes per annum. Section 45C change to proposal approved on 27 October 2004. Attachment 2 to Statement 147 - Increase in salt production from 3.2 million tonnes per annum to approximately 4.5 million tonnes per annum for approximately 2 years from the start of mining. Section 45C change to proposal approved on 13 July 2005. Attachment 3 to Statement 147 - Changes to Table 1, Schedule 1 - Key Characteristics Table. Section 45C change to proposal approved on 10 December 2013. Attachment 4 to Statement 147 - Change to Bitterns Discharge Volume. Section 45C change to proposal approved on 23 April 2018. Attachment 5 to Statement 147 - Removal of the 3.2 million tonnes per annum solar salt production limit from Attachment 4 of MS 147. Amendment to correct typographic error.. Section 45C change to proposal approved on 22 December 2022. Date of approval s. 45C Wednesday, October 27, 2004 - 12:00 Wednesday, July 13, 2005 - 12:00 Tuesday, December 10, 2013 - 12:00 Monday, April 23, 2018 - 12:00 Thursday, December 22, 2022 - 12:00
