Orebody 32 Below Water Table Creek Discharge

Overview

BHP proposes to construct and operate a creek discharge at Homestead Creek to manage up to 60 megalitres per day (up to 16.2 gigalitres per annum) of surplus water from the existing Orebody 32 Below Water Table (BWT) mining operations, located approximately 3.6 kilometres northeast of Newman.

The existing Orebody 32 BWT mine includes below water table mining and the construction of a surplus water pipeline to Ophthalmia Dam. The proposal is a derived proposal authorised by the Pilbara Expansion Strategic Proposal, Ministerial Statement (MS) 1105.

The proposal includes:

• the construction of a short offtake pipe from the existing Orebody 32 BWT surplus water pipeline
• a discharge outlet to Homestead Creek
• a series of aeration ponds, if construction is required, to prevent the persistent formation of calcium carbonate precipitate in Homestead Creek.

The proposal will be located within a 174 hectare (ha) development envelope and will require the clearing of up to 40 ha of native vegetation.

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.