Eliwana Railway Project

Overview

Fortescue Metals Group Limited proposes to build a 120 km railway linking their existing Solomon Mine with their proposed Eliwana Iron Ore Mine, located 90 km west-northwest of Tom Price (Shire of Ashburton).

The eastern section of the proposed Eliwana Railway Project development envelope is adjacent to Karijini National Park.

Proposed Infrastructure within the Rail Development Envelope includes: Railway and associated embankment; Rail loop; Crossing/passing loops; Railway overpass; Train loadout; Rail maintenance track; Banker siding; Signalling infrastructure; Access roads; Bridges & Culverts; Borrow areas & Ballast quarry; Gas and water pipelines; Power transmission lines; Construction and potable water supply borefield, infrastructure and water storage facilities; Communication infrastructure (including towers and fibre optic cables); Fuel storage; Wastewater treatment plants; and Construction camps.

The proposal includes disturbance to 3,690 ha of native vegetation and fauna habitat within the 57,000 ha development envelope. Water abstraction of 2 gigalitres per year during construction (approximately 1-2 years) and 100,000 kilolitres during operational phase, from local water supply borefields

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.