West Pilbara Iron Ore Project Stage 1

West Pilbara Iron Ore Project Stage 1 - Mine and Rail

Project

Proponent:

Proposal description:

The proposal is to develop eight iron ore deposits at five locations, between 35 and 85 kilometres (km) south of Pannawonica. A heavy-haulage railway approximately 285 km in length would be developed to connect the mine area with a port to be constructed at Anketell Point, 25 km north-east of Karratha. The project would produce up to 30 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) of iron ore.

This Ministerial Statement was superseded by Statement 1026 and Statement 1027 published on 4 February 2016.

Assessment Number:

1767

Region:

Pilbara

Referred under EP Act:

s38

Industry sector:

Infrastructure

Iron Ore

Last updated:

November 25, 2024

Current Status:

Ministerial Statement published

2. Decision on whether to assess this proposal

Chair's Determination:

Assess - Public Environmental Review

Extract of determination:

West Pilbara Iron Ore Project - mining and railway south-west of Pannawonica, Shire of Ashburton and Shire of Roebourne

Preliminary Environmental Factors:

Social Surroundings

Flora and Vegetation

Terrestrial Fauna

Inland Waters Environmental Quality

Date published:

Monday, 8 December, 2008

3. Assessment

Environmental Review

Public submissions:

Monday, 21 June, 2010 to Monday, 16 August, 2010

Proponent response to submissions:

Response to Submissions Report

Appendix 1: Complete submissions and response table

4. EPA Report on assessment

EPA Report Number:

1409

EPA Report:

West Pilbara Iron Ore Project Stage 1 Mine and Rail Proposal

Key Environmental Factors:

Flora and Vegetation

Subterranean Fauna

Terrestrial Fauna

Date published:

Wednesday, 3 August, 2011

Appeals close:

Wednesday, 17 August, 2011

5. Decision on proposal and implementation of proposal

Ministerial Statement

Comments:

This Ministerial Statement was superseded by Statement 1026 and Statement 1027 published on 4 February 2016.

Date of approval:

Wednesday, 30 November, 2011

Ministerial Statement:

Ministerial Statement 881

Post-assessment changes

Comments:

In July 2014, Aquila Resources Ltd was acquired by Baosteel Resources Australia Pty Ltd and Aurizon Operations Limited. A revised implementation model for the project has been developed based on separate corporate entities being responsible for implementing the mine and rail infrastructure components of the project.

In August 2015, API Management Pty Ltd (API) submitted a request for a change to the proposal and Ministerial Statement under Sections 45C and 46 of the EP Act, requesting that the Ministerial Statement be separated into two for the mine and rail infrastructure components. This would include separating the development envelope into a mine development envelope and rail infrastructure development envelope. The change also involves minor amendments to the areas of disturbance and development envelopes. This results in a 67 hectare (ha) reduction to the total area of disturbance.

Section 46 inquiry:

West Pilbara Iron Ore Project Stage 1 – Mine and Rail (s46)