East Pilbara Strategic Proposal

Closed 4 Aug 2025

Opened 28 Jul 2025

Overview

Pilbara Iron Company (Services) Pty Ltd, a member of the Rio Tinto group of companies, has developed a strategic proposal to facilitate future development throughout the East Pilbara over the next 80 years.

The key components include:

  • new above and below water table mining, and expansions to existing mines
  • associated mining activities and infrastructure which commonly includes crushers, conveyors, ore processing facilities (wet and dry), waste rock landforms, stockpiles, tailings storage facilities (including in-pit), train load-out facilities, laydown areas, workshops, administration and accommodation facilities, airports, power generation, dangerous goods and hazardous materials storage facilities, waste disposal, wastewater treatment, and surface water management infrastructure
  • groundwater abstraction and management, including the transfer, discharge and recharge of groundwater through Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR)
  • renewable energy generation and storage, including solar and wind farms, battery storage, and associated activities and infrastructure
  • linear infrastructure including water transfer pipelines, haul roads, powerlines, pipelines and conveyor corridors, and rail
  • rehabilitation and closure activities associated with future development.

Related

View the referral information on the EPA website (under 1.Referral)

East Pilbara Strategic Proposal | EPA Western Australia

Why your views matter

At this initial stage of the EIA process, comment is simply sought on whether or not the EPA should assess a proposal and, if so, what level of assessment is considered appropriate.

What happens next

Following the seven day public comment period and consideration of any comments received, the EPA will decide whether or not this proposal requires environmental impact assessment and, if so, what level of assessment will be applied.

The EPA's decisions on level of assessment are released each Monday on the EPA's website.

Areas

  • All of Western Australia

Audiences

  • Public

Interests

  • Seven-day comment on referrals