Mulga Downs Iron Ore Mine

Overview

The Proposal is located 210 km south of Port Hedland and 180 km north west of Newman in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.  The proposal is located within a 40,653 ha Development Envelope and will require clearing of no more than 9,628 ha of native vegetation.

The proposal includes, but is not limited to, the following:

- The development of a series of above and below water table mine pits;

- Ore processing facility;

- Groundwater abstraction for water supply (for the mine and all associated infrastructure) and for the dewatering to facilitate the recovery of ore below water table in the mine pits;

- Surplus water management with discharge of excess water either via limited direct disposal to the environment (into existing creeklines) and injection via managed aquifer reinjection (MAR);

- Mineral waste management (waste rock dumps, and tailings storage facilities (TSFs);

- Infrastructure to manage surface water (diversion of creeks and surface water flows);

- Linear infrastructure (haul roads, powerlines, pipelines and conveyor corridors);

- Mine associated infrastructure and support facilities (including, but not limited to accommodation camp, energy supply infrastructure, airstrip; wastewater treatment plant (WWTP); landfill, offices, workshops, laydown areas, etc.); and

- Transport of the ore via the Great Northern Highway to Port Hedland for export. Future transport options (e.g. rail) will be subject to a separate approvals process.

Facilities will be developed to support production of up to 20 million tonnes of ore per annum (Mtpa) over a minimum 30-year period. The proposal is located within an area of existing pastoral and mining land use.

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.