Thunderbird Mineral Sands Project

Project

Proponent:

Proposal description:

Sheffield Resources Limited is seeking approval to develop the Thunderbird Mineral Sands Project located on the Dampier Peninsula, approximately 75 kilometres southwest of Derby, Western Australia. The proposal is for a mineral sands operation with an estimated 40 year life of mine. Mineral product will be mined from the Thunderbird Deposit and processed onsite before being transported by road to the Derby Wharf for storage and subsequent export.

Assessment Number:

2073

Region:

Kimberley

Referred under EP Act:

s38

Industry sector:

Mineral sands

Last updated:

November 8, 2022

Current Status:

Ministerial Statement published

1. Referral

Comment on this referral:

Thunderbird Mineral Sands Project

Comment period:

Monday, 30 November, 2015 to Sunday, 6 December, 2015

Referral documentation:

Referral Document - Thunderbird Mineral Sands Project

Supporting Documentation - Part 1

Supporting Documentation - Part 2

Supporting Documentation - Part 3

Supporting Documentation - Part 4

Supporting Documentation - Part 5

Supporting Documentation - Part 6

Supporting Documentation - Part 7

2. Decision on whether to assess this proposal

Chair's Determination:

Assess - Public Environmental Review

Extract of determination:

Chairman's Determination - Thunderbird Mineral Sands Project

Preliminary Environmental Factors:

Social Surroundings

Marine Environmental Quality

Flora and Vegetation

Terrestrial Fauna

Hydrological Processes

Inland Waters Environmental Quality

Date published:

Monday, 21 December, 2015

3. Assessment

Scoping

Environmental scoping document:

Environmental Scoping Document - Thunderbird Mineral Sands Project

Approved:

Monday, 4 July, 2016

Bilateral assessment (EPBC Act):

2016/7648

Environmental Review

Public submissions:

Monday, 16 January, 2017 to Monday, 13 February, 2017

Make a submission:

Public Environmental Review - Thunderbird Mineral Sands Project

Environmental Review documentation:

Thunderbird PER document

Appendix 1 Section 43A application

Appendix 2 Submission Checklists

Appendix 3 Sheffield Resources Environmental Policy

Appendix 4 Thunderbird Mine Closure Plan

Appendix 5 Mine Site Development Envelope Surface Hydrology Study

Appendix 6 Mine Site Development Envelope Soil and Landform Assessment

Appendix 7 Landform Assessment Methodology

Appendix 8 H3 Hydrogeological Assessment

Appendix 9a Ecologia 2012 Level 1 Flora and Fauna Assessment

Appendix 9b Ecologia 2012 Thunderbird Cultural Heritage Flora and Fauna Assessment

Appendix 9c Ecologia 2013 Thunderbird Flora and Fauna Survey Scoping Study Report

Appendix 9d Ecologia 2014 Level 2 Terrestrial & Subterranean Assessment

Appendix 9e Ecologia 2014 Thunderbird Targeted SRE Report

Appendix 9f Ecologia 2016 Haul Road Flora & Fauna Level 1 Assessment Rev 1

Appendix 9g Ecologia 2016 Thunderbird Targeted Greater Bilby Assessment Rev 2

Appendix 9h Mattiske 2016a Flora and Vegetation

Appendix 9i Mattiske 2016b GDE Study

Appendix 9j Western Wildlife 2016 Thunderbird Fauna Peer Review

Appendix 10 Fauna Survey Peer Review

Appendix 11 Fauna Which Have Potential to Occur at the Mine Site Development Envelope

Appendix 12 Mine Site Development Envelope Air Quality Assessment

Appendix 13 Mine Site Development Envelope Noise Assessment

Appendix 14 Port BCA and ASS Assessment

Appendix 15 DPaW Fauna Search 5288

Appendix 16 EPBC Search Derby Port and Transhipment Route

Appendix 17 Derby Port Development Envelope Air Quality Assessment

Appendix 18 Derby Port Development Envelope Noise Assessment

Appendix 19 Mine Waste Characterisation Study

Appendix 20 Mine Residues Characterisation Study

Appendix 21 Radiation Reports

Appendix 22 Preliminary Vegetation EMP

Appendix 23 Bilby Environmental Management Plan Final

Appendix 24 Groundwater Management Plan

Appendix 25 Preliminary Port EMP

Appendix 26 Aboriginal Heritage Management Operations Framework

Appendix 27a DoEE offset-assessment-guide Bilbyv2 LOM

Appendix 27b DoEE offset-assessment-guide Bilbyv2 Temp

Proponent response to submissions:

Response to submissions

RTS - Attachment 1 - Flora GAP Analysis

RTS - Attachment 2 - F1 Humpback whale Kimberley calving grounds and migratory routes

Minor or preliminary work under s. 41A(3)

s. 41A(3) notice:

Notice of decision to consent to minor or preliminary works (s41A(3))

Date of approval s. 41A(3):

Thursday, 27 July, 2017

Change to proposal during assessment under s. 43A

s. 43A notice:

Section 43A Notice of decision to consent to change to proposal during assessment and Statement of Reasons

Date of approval s. 43A:

Thu, 14/09/2017

4. EPA Report on assessment

EPA Report Number:

1606

EPA Report:

EPA Report 1606 - Thunderbird Mineral Sands Project

Key Environmental Factors:

Social Surroundings

Coastal Processes

Marine Environmental Quality

Flora and Vegetation

Terrestrial Fauna

Hydrological Processes

Date published:

Monday, 9 October, 2017

Appeals close:

Monday, 23 October, 2017

5. Decision on proposal and implementation of proposal

Ministerial Statement

Date of approval:

Friday, 10 August, 2018

Ministerial Statement:

Statement 1080.pdf

Post-assessment changes

s. 45C amendments:

Attachment 1 to Ministerial Statement 1080

Changes:
• Export of bulk products via Broome in addition to Derby
• Increase of the number of journeys per day between the Mine Site and Broome.
• Inclusion of the amount of bulk mineral sand products in Mega tonnes per annum
being exported from the Port of Broome in Table 2.
• Removal of the amount of storage for packaged mineral sand products at Broome
Port from Table 2.
• A 30 ha Increase in clearing for infrastructure and a 30 ha decrease in clearing for
mining.

Changes approved under s.45C on 8 November 2022.

Attachments:

Attachment 1 to Ministerial statement 1080 - s45c amendment to proposal.pdf

Attachment 1- Notice and summary of reasons.pdf

Date of approval s. 45C:

Tuesday, 8 November, 2022