The proposal is for iron ore mining operations at Ministers North, located approximately 85 km north-west of the Town of Newman. The proposal is located approximately 15 km south-east of BHP’s existing Yandi Mining Operations (Yandi).
The proposal is a derived proposal for mining operations at Ministers North authorised by the Pilbara Expansion Strategic Proposal, Ministerial Statement 1105.
The proposal includes:
- Above water table mining in open mine pits.
- Stockpiling of ore on a run of mine pad prior to transport of ore to Yandi.
- A Central Overburden Storage Area and in-pit backfilling of the mine pits.
- Infrastructure corridor connecting Ministers North to Yandi.
- A new primary crusher at Yandi to accommodate the Brockman-type ore supply.
- Mine access roads and tracks to connect various mining infrastructure.
- Borrow pits, laydown areas, stockpiles (topsoil, subsoil, vegetation).
- Surface water management infrastructure.
- Water supply pipelines (including requirement for pump stations and turkey’s nests).
- Associated infrastructure to support the mine construction and operation.
The proposal is located within a 5,556.6 ha development envelope and will require the clearing of up to 1,848 ha of native vegetation.
