ProjectProponent: BHP Billiton Iron Ore Pty LtdProposal description: The proposal is for an increase in the mining rate from approximately 12 Mtpa to 45 Mtpa. The Wheelarra Hill Mine located approximately 40 km from Newman. The proposal includes clearing of an additional 580 ha of vegetation. The required water supply would increase from 3,750 kL per day to 11,800 kL per day. The proposal also involves the construction of a new rail spur and loop and Train Load-out facilities as well as the upgrading of existing 66 kV power line and installation of a second line. Assessment Number: 1797Region: PilbaraReferred under EP Act: s38Industry sector: Iron OreLast updated: October 12, 2009Current Status: Ministerial Statement published 1. ReferralReferral documentation: Damper-Bunbury Natural Gas Pipeline Stage 5 Expansion - EIA (PDF, 31.5 MB) Appendix 1 - Alinta Environmental Policy (PDF, 88.15 KB) Appendix 2a - Working document to identify Aboriginal Heritage Issues (PDF, 4.89 MB) Appendix 2b - Management of the Impacts to Fauna During the Stage 4 Expansion of the DBNGP (PDF, 158.16 KB) Appendix 2c - Fauna Values of Stage 5 of the DBNGP (PDF, 2.79 MB) Appendix 2d - Flora and Vegetation survey - Mattiske 2003a (PDF, 1.71 MB) Appendix 2e - Flora and Vegetation survey - Mattiske 2003b (PDF, 3.92 MB) Appendix 2f - Flora and Vegetation survey - Mattiske 2006 (PDF, 24.96 MB) Appendix 2g-i - Parsons Brinckerhoff 2006 Report and Appendices A-E (PDF, 44.46 MB) Appendix 2g-ii - Parsons Brinckerhoff 2006 Report - Appendices F-J (PDF, 47.66 MB) Appendix 2g-iii - Parsons Brinckerhoff 2006 Report - Appendices K-V (PDF, 4.62 MB) Appendix 3 - Wetlands of Loops 9 and 10 (PDF, 311.96 KB) Appendix 4 - Typical drawings (PDF, 1.04 MB) 2. Decision on whether to assess this proposalChair's Determination: Assessment on referral information (ARI)Extract of determination: 1797_ChairDets100809.pdf (PDF, 34.99 KB)Preliminary Environmental Factors: Flora and VegetationDate published: Monday, 10 August, 2009 4. EPA Report on assessmentEPA Report Number: 1335EPA Report: Wheelarra Hill Mine Modification (PDF, 531.08 KB)Key Environmental Factors: Flora and VegetationDate published: Monday, 10 August, 2009Appeals close: Monday, 24 August, 2009 5. Decision on proposal and implementation of proposalMinisterial StatementDate of approval: Wednesday, 7 October, 2009Ministerial Statement: Ministerial Statement 809 (PDF, 349.96 KB)