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Yandicoogina Iron Ore Mine and Railway East Hamersley Range (s46) [1265]

Project
Proponent: 
Hamersley Iron Pty Ltd
Proposal description: 

The currently approved Yandicoogina Iron Ore Mine and Railway (also known as "Yandi (HIY) Project") is located approximately 90 kilometres north west of the town of Newman. This currently approved project involves the construction and operation of:

  • an open cut iron ore mine;
  • facilities to crush and screen ore and convey it to the railloadout facility; and
  • a 90 kilometre rail section which connects the mine to the Central Pilbara Railway.

Compared with the approved project (Ministerial Statement 417) the proposed mining area extension will:

  • increase the length of the mining area along the CID by 4.75 km;
  • increase the mining area by 300 ha;
  • extend the projected mine life by 10 to 15 years;
  • have a similar pit profile;
  • increase (initially) the current maintenance dewatering from 10-15 ML/d to 15-20 ML/d, thereafter returning to the same maintenance dewatering rate;
  • change the number of dewatering borefields from two to three and their location;
  • relocate the dewatering discharge points toward the end of mine life;
  • use the same mine support infrastructure (workshops, camp, power, administration offices);
  • ultimately require an additional new ore processing plant or re-location of the existing one; and
  • involve the same approach of backfilling with overburden material as mining progresses.

This is an inquiry under s46 into the proposed changes to the environmental conditions of Ministerial Statement 417.

Assessment Number: 
1174
Region: 
Pilbara
Referred under EP Act: 
s46
Industry sector: 
Iron Ore
Last updated: 
December 15, 2011
Current Status: 
Ministerial Statement published
Ministerial Statement published
2. Decision on whether to assess this proposal
Chair's Determination: 
s46 request for a change to environmental conditions (not subject to appeal): Public Notification
Preliminary Environmental Factors: 
Inland Waters Environmental Quality
Date published: 
Friday, 21 November, 1997
3. Assessment
Environmental Review
Public submissions: 
Monday, 22 February, 1999 to Monday, 22 March, 1999
4. EPA Report on assessment
EPA Report Number: 
946
EPA Report: 
PDF icon Yandicoogina Iron Ore Mine and Railway - extension of mining area, change to environmental conditions
Key Environmental Factors: 
Hydrological Processes
Inland Waters Environmental Quality
Date published: 
Friday, 3 September, 1999
Appeals close: 
Friday, 6 August, 1999
5. Decision on proposal and implementation of proposal
Ministerial Statement
Date of approval: 
Friday, 1 October, 1999
Ministerial Statement: 
PDF icon Ministerial Statement 523
Post-assessment changes
s. 45C amendments: 

Attachment to Statement 523 - expand existing waste rock dump area by 38ha in a crescent shaped area to the north and northeast; develop a new waste rock dump to the east of the current pit with an area of 22ha, which will be adjacent to the approved future mine pit area; and, develop two stockpile areas with a combined footprint of approximately 15ha to the southeast of the new waste rock dump - change to definition of proposal approved 25 February 2005.

Attachment to Statement 523 - Junction Central - new heavy vehicle workshop; new administration offices; new training room; new warehouse; Junction Central duplication of rail loop; Junction Central - expansion of permanent village; expansion of construction camp; upgrade of sewage treatment plant and expansion of effluent spray areas. Junction Central -upgrade of substations at both the Tertiary Crushing and Screening Facilities; new explosives magazine facility; new power distribution infrastmcture; and, realignment of road from airstrip to Junction Central - change to definition of proposal approved 25 February 2005.

Attachment to Statement 417 and 523 - change to the description in the Consultative Environmental Review for Statement 417 and to Schedule 1 of Statement 523 - change to description of proposal approved on 12 May 2006.

Attachment 1 to Statement 523 - Increase of dewatering cap to 12 GL/a - s45C change to proposal approved on 16 July 2009.

Attachment 2 to Statement 523 - To develop a new pit cutback near Phil’s Creek, and to relocate the position of an approved Junction Central waste fines cell - s45C change to proposal approved on 16 June 2010.

Attachment 3 to Statement 523 - Increase site footprint by 225ha, additional ore stockpiles and infrastructure, update footprint for site and raise mining rate to 36Mt/a - s45C change to proposal approved on 15 December 2011.

Date of approval s. 45C: 
Friday, 25 February, 2005
Friday, 25 February, 2005
Friday, 12 May, 2006
Thursday, 16 July, 2009
Friday, 16 July, 2010
Thursday, 15 December, 2011

Source URL:https://www.epa.wa.gov.au/proposals/yandicoogina-iron-ore-mine-and-railway-east-hamersley-range-s46-1265