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Mt Weld Rare Earths Project – Life of Mine Proposal

Project
Proponent: 
Mt Weld Mining Pty Limited
Proposal description: 

Mt Weld Mining Pty Ltd proposes to expand the Mt Weld Mine, which includes the construction and operation of a rare earths mine and processing plant, to its life of mine extent. 

The expansion proposes to increase the development envelope from the currently approved 505 hectares (ha) to 2,802 ha, to allow for expansion of infrastructure and activities, including:  

  • a staged transition from diesel fuelled power generation to gas hybrid renewable (including solar and battery energy storage, and future wind generation)  

  • workers accommodation village 

  • additional borefield and tailings water recycling 

  • waste rock landforms designed for progressive rehabilitation 

  • expansion to the ROM pad 

  • surface water management infrastructure and managed aquifer recharge 

  • increase in production capacity, and transport 

  • changes to tailings disposal methodology 

  • transport and storage of Kalgoorlie REPF by-products for long term storage at Mt Weld. 

The life of mine is proposed to be an additional 23 years.

Assessment Number: 
2350
Region: 
Goldfields Esperance
Referred under EP Act: 
s38
Industry sector: 
Rare earth elements
Last updated: 
March 26, 2024
Current Status: 
Ministerial Statement published
Ministerial Statement published
1. Referral
Comment on this referral: 
Mt Weld Rare Earths Project – Life of Mine Proposal
Comment period: 
Monday, 5 September, 2022 to Sunday, 11 September, 2022
Referral documentation: 
PDF icon Referral form
PDF icon Proposal Content Document
PDF icon Supporting Report
PDF icon Appx B - S46 Revision of MS476 Conditions_v1.pdf
PDF icon Appx D - Applicable Obligations Register_Mt Weld.pdf
PDF icon Appx E - MTW-HR-POL-0004_1_WA Community Statement.pdf
PDF icon Appx F - Mt Weld Heritage Survey 2022_Final.pdf
PDF icon Appx G - Mt Weld Rare Earths Project 2021 MCP Final1_1.pdf
PDF icon Appx H - MTW-MT-PLA-0001_RMP_v10.pdf
PDF icon Appx I - MS-03-7-009_RMP v10 Approval Letter.pdf
PDF icon Appx J - MWEL_FF_20001_Detailed Flora&Veg_Phase2_v5.pdf
PDF icon Appx K - MWEL_FF_2020_02_Phase2_Fauna_Report_Final_v4.pdf
PDF icon Appx L - Lynas Mt Weld Impact Assessment_April 2022_v5.pdf
PDF icon Appx M1 - Onshore_Technical Review Mt Weld Flora_v2.pdf
PDF icon Appx M2 - Onshore_Technical Review Mt Weld Fauna_v1.pdf
PDF icon Appx N - MWEL-SF-19001_SubTer Fauna Assessment_v0.4.pdf
PDF icon 1-1 g1942_MP23_F01_00.pdf
PDF icon 1-2 g1942_MP23_F01_01.pdf
PDF icon 2-1 g1942_MP23_F01_04.pdf
PDF icon 2-2 g1942_MP23_F01_15.pdf
PDF icon 6-1 g1942_MP23_F01_09.pdf
PDF icon 6-2 g1942_MP23_F01_07.pdf
PDF icon 6-3 g1942_MP23_F01_11.pdf
PDF icon 6-4 g1942_MP23_F01_12.pdf
PDF icon 6-5 g1942_MP23_F01_10.pdf
PDF icon 7-1 g1942_MP23_F01_13.pdf
PDF icon 7-2 g1942_MP23_F01_14.pdf
PDF icon 9-1 g1942_MP23_F01_05.pdf
PDF icon 9-2 g1942_MP23_F01_08.pdf
PDF icon 12-1 g1942_MP23_F01_06.pdf
2. Decision on whether to assess this proposal
Chair's Determination: 
Assess - Additional Assessment Information (public review)
Extract of determination: 
PDF icon Mt Weld Rare Earths Project – Life of Mine Proposal
Preliminary Environmental Factors: 
Social Surroundings
Human Health
Flora and Vegetation
Terrestrial Environmental Quality
Terrestrial Fauna
Date published: 
Monday, 10 October, 2022
3. Assessment
Environmental Review
Public submissions: 
Monday, 15 May, 2023 to Sunday, 11 June, 2023
Make a submission: 
Mt Weld Rare Earths Project – Life of Mine Proposal - Additional Information
Environmental Review documentation: 
PDF icon MWM LOM - Environmental Review Document V2.pdf
PDF icon Appx A - Ministerial Statement 476.pdf
PDF icon Appx B - S46 Revision of MS476 Conditions_v1.pdf
PDF icon Appx C - Environmental Monitoring Programme.pdf
PDF icon Appx D - Register of Applicable Legal Obligations.pdf
PDF icon Appx E - WA Statement of Commitment.pdf
PDF icon Appx F - Mt Weld Aboriginal Heritage Survey 2022 - Final.pdf
PDF icon Appx G - Mine Clousure Plan.pdf
PDF icon Appx H - Radiation Management Plan (RMP).pdf
PDF icon Appx I - RMP Approval Letter.pdf
PDF icon Appx J - Surface Water Management Plan.pdf
PDF icon Appx K - Detailed Flora and Vegetation Survey - Phase 2_v5.pdf
PDF icon Appx L - Level 2 and Targeted Terrestrial Fauna Survey.pdf
PDF icon Appx M1 - Technical Review - Detailed Flora and Vegetation Survey.pdf
PDF icon Appx M2 - Technical Review - Mt Weld Rare Earths Project Detailed Fauna Survey.pdf
PDF icon Appx N - ABAB Advice memo_Onshore.pdf
PDF icon Appx O - Subterranean Fauna Assessment.pdf
PDF icon Appx P - Fauna Management Plan.pdf
PDF icon Appx Q - Mt Weld - Frequently Asked Question (FAQ).pdf
PDF icon Figure 1-1 - Regional Location.pdf
PDF icon Figure 1-2 - Development Envelope.pdf
PDF icon Figure 2-1 Byproduct & TSF landform locations.pdf
PDF icon Figure 2-2 - Mineral Deposits.pdf
PDF icon Figure 7-1 - Conservation Reserve.pdf
PDF icon Figure 7-2 - Phase 1&2 Survey Effort.pdf
PDF icon Figure 7-3 - Vegetation Mapping.pdf
PDF icon Figure 7-4 - Vegetation Condition.pdf
PDF icon Figure 7-5 - Conservation Significance Flora.pdf
PDF icon Figure 7-6 - Vegetation Health Monitoring Points.pdf
PDF icon Figure 7-7 - Modelled Surface Water Flow.pdf
PDF icon Figure 8-1 - Fauna Survey Effort.pdf
PDF icon Figure 8-2 - Fauna Habitat Mapping.pdf
PDF icon Figure 8-3 - Potential SREs Specimens.pdf
PDF icon Figure 13-1 - Heritage Sites.pdf
Date Published (Environmental Review documentation): 
May 15, 2023
Proponent response to submissions: 
PDF icon 1 Response to Submissions V0.1.pdf
PDF icon 2 Targeted Survey - Stantec SRE Memo_v0.pdf
PDF icon 3 Fauna Management Plan.pdf
PDF icon 4 Flora and Vegetation Management Plan.pdf
PDF icon 5 Surface Water Management Plan.pdf
PDF icon 6 May – June 2023 Targeted SRE Survey.pdf
Date published (Proponent response to submissions): 
August 17, 2023
Minor or preliminary work under s. 41A(3)
s. 41A(3) notice: 
PDF icon s. 41A(3) Notice - 130323.pdf
Date of approval s. 41A(3): 
Monday, 13 March, 2023
4. EPA Report on assessment
EPA Report Number: 
1752
EPA Report: 
PDF icon EPA Report 1752 - Mt Weld Rare Earths Project - Assessment report.pdf
Key Environmental Factors: 
Human Health
Terrestrial Fauna
Date published: 
Thursday, 9 November, 2023
Appeals close: 
Thursday, 30 November, 2023
5. Decision on proposal and implementation of proposal
Ministerial Statement
Date of approval: 
Wednesday, 20 December, 2023
Ministerial Statement: 
PDF icon Statement 1216.pdf
Post-assessment changes
s. 45C amendments: 

Attachment 1 to Statement 1216 - Increase in maximum extent of tailings dam area from 170 hectares to 280 hectares. Change to conditions approved under s.45C on 26 March 2024.

Date of approval s. 45C: 
Tuesday, 26 March, 2024

Source URL:https://www.epa.wa.gov.au/proposals/mt-weld-rare-earths-project-%E2%80%93-life-mine-proposal