A proposal to develop an underground gold mine in the Great Sandy Desert has been recommended for approval by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), subject to strict conditions that include a ban on night-time haulage to protect the critically endangered night parrot.
Located about 400km south-east of Port Hedland, the Telfer - Havieron Gold Mining Project comprises the construction of the Havieron underground mine, within a development envelope encompassing both Telfer and Havieron operations.
The Greatland Pty Ltd proposal includes waste rock landforms, evaporation ponds, expanded groundwater abstraction, and a 55km haul road for trucking ore from Havieron to Telfer for processing, for a combined total of 32 million tonnes of ore production.
EPA Chair Darren Walsh said the protection of conservation-significant fauna was front and centre of a comprehensive environmental impact assessment.
“The EPA’s recommended conditions would ensure that implementation of the proposal would result in no disturbance to critical habitat for the night parrot, and protections for the greater bilby population within and adjacent to the project area,” he said.
“The EPA considers that impacts can be significantly reduced through speed limits during day-time haulage, prohibition of night‑time haulage operations on the Telfer Havieron haul road, use of fauna spotters, buffers around active burrows and roosts, and fauna crossings to maintain ecological connectivity.
“Pre-clearance surveys and fauna exclusion areas have also been recommended to minimise any direct impact to terrestrial fauna such as the night parrot, greater bilby and great desert skink.”
The proposal area lies on unallocated crown land within the Native Title Determination Areas of Martu and Ngurrara Peoples.
“To ensure ongoing access to land for traditional and cultural purposes, the EPA has also recommended conditions to ensure no interruption of entry by native title holders,” Mr Walsh said.
The EPA’s report to the Minister for Environment is now open for a three-week public appeal period, closing 29 April 2026. Appeals should be directed to the Office of the Appeals Convenor.
The Minister for Environment will make the final decision on the proposal. EPA Report 1806 can be found on the EPA website.
EPA Media Contact: Jenni.Storey@dwer.wa.gov.au; 0434 734 997
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