Optimised Mardie Project

Overview

Mardie Minerals Pty Ltd has approval to develop a greenfields high quality salt and SoP project and associated export facility at Mardie, approximately 80 km south-west of Karratha, in the Pilbara region of WA. The project will produce a high purity salt product, Sulphate of Potash (SoP) and other products that can be derived from sea water. 

The Proposal includes the expansion of the approved Mardie Project (Ministerial Statement [MS] 1175) including expanded concentrator and crystalliser ponds, an increased salt and SoP production rate, new secondary seawater intake option, a port facility laydown area, a quarry, and minor changes to the dredge channel. 

The Proposal is a significant amendment to the Original Proposal approved under MS 1175, specifically to: 

• Increase the Terrestrial Development Envelope by 3,978 ha. 

• Increase in disturbance within the Terrestrial Development Envelope by 2,334 ha. 

• Increase in project throughput, which includes: 

• Increase in seawater intake to 180 GL/a. 

• Increase in brine discharge to 5.5 GL/a. 

• Increase in export volumes to 5.35 Mtpa of salt and 140 ktpa of SoP. 

• Inclusion of another secondary seawater intake option within Mardie Creek. 

• Minor alteration of the dredge footprint and methodology within the Dredge Channel Development Envelope (10-ha increase in dredge disturbance footprint but no change to dredge volume). 

• Increase the Dredge Channel Development Envelope by 3.5 ha. 

• A quarry adjacent to Mardie Road.

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.