Yakabindie Nickel Project (s46) [765]

This inquiry under s46 is in regard to a proposal for further modifications to the Yakabindie Nickel Project (currently approved under Ministerial Statement 142)  to incorporate a new open pit and associated waste dump area, and an expansion of the Six Mile pit.

The new open pit is known as the Goliath North pit and is located to the south-east of the Six Mile pit. The Six Mile pit is to be expanded which would increase its ore reserves by about 10%. The combined increase in ore reserves from the proposed modifications would be approximately 45 million tonnes. This increase would increase the life of the project from 15 years to approximately 20 years. A waste dump would be required to service the Goliath North pit. It is proposed to locate this dump to the east of the open pit adjacent to the south-west corner of Wanjarri Nature Reserve in the area proposed for a waste dump in the original proposal.