The initial proposal by Worsley to develop the Boddington Gold Mine approximately 12km north-west of the town of Boddington was the subject of an EPA evaluation in 1985 (EPA 1985). An Environmental Management Programme was prepared and submitted in 1987 and the mine was commissioned in July 1987. Since that time environmental approvals have been given by the Minister for the Environment for two expansions of throughput, an additional water supply reservoir, the mining of basement and supergene ores, the mining of oxide ores from eastern anomalies and a rehabilitation strategy for the mining and residue disposal areas.

This proposal is for a major expansion including a new tailings area and new orebodies mined, which will result in increased clearing and increased water discharge.