Greenbushes Lithium Mine: Waste Rock Landforms, Salt Water Gully Dam and additional clearing for infrastructure

Closed 5 May 2025

Opened 28 Apr 2025

Contact

6364 7000

Overview

Talison Lithium Australia Pty Ltd (Talison) propose to expand the existing Greenbushes Lithium Mine that has been operating for over 30 years, to increase the production of spodumene ore and lithium mineral concentrate from the operation. This proposal is an expansion of the existing mining operation to incorporate: 

  • Construction of the S2 waste rock landform (WRL) as an expansion of the Floyds WRL. 

  • Construction and operation of the S8 WRL to the east of the existing proposal development envelope. 

  • Expansion of existing agricultural dams to create a larger Salt Water Gully Dam (SWG Dam) located within Salt Water Gully northeast of the existing proposal development envelope. 

  • Development of new Floyds Water Management Infrastructure to stop discharge of water-borne leachates from waste rock on the eastern side of the proposal. 

  • Extension of the Maranup Ford Road Infrastructure Corridor. 

  • Additional Chemical Grade Plant 4 (CGP4) laydown areas. 

  • Raising of the Austins and Southampton Dam embankments. 

  • Realignment of Spring Gully Road 

  • Development of laydowns and / or stockpiles in areas adjacent to Austins and Southampton Dams. 

The mine is located in the South West region of Western Australia, immediately south of the town of Greenbushes, approximately 250 km south east of Perth, Western Australia.

The proposal development envelope would increase from the 2,207 ha authorised under Ministerial Statement 1111 (MS 1111) to 2,826 ha (619 ha, 28% increase). 

The proposal requires additional clearing of 191 ha within the proposal development envelope to a total of 541 ha. The proposal would result in the direct loss of 350 ha native vegetation (approved under MS 1111),  additional 162 ha of native vegetation (State Forest 20) and 29 ha of mine disturbance rehabilitation.

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