Southdown Magnetite Project

Overview

The Southdown Magnetite Project proposal is an amendment to Ministerial Statement 816 (MS 816). MS 816 approves the construction and operation of an open pit magnetite mine located approximately 90  kilometres east-north-east of Albany. Including pipelines for ore slurry transport and return water, connecting the mine site and port facilities in the Port of Albany.  

The revised proposal includes the following proposed amendments: 

•   revised mine plan and associated infrastructure layout resulting in a Revised Proposal Development Envelope (Mine Site) and associated indicative disturbance footprint; 

•   modification of the intersection of Gnowellen Road and South Coast Highway to link with indicative disturbance footprint; 

•   modified ore processing at mine site;  

•   minor realignment of the return water pipelines connecting to the mine site;  

•   addition of a proposed slurry and return water pipelines alternative option at Chester Pass Road;  

•   addition of a new slurry emergency storage area, pump station and connecting pipelines;  

•   addition of new groundwater supply borefields (Manypeaks and Wellstead South);  

•   addition of pipelines to connect the Wellstead South and Manypeaks borefield to the mine site; 

•   amend the water limit to 12 GL/a to align MS 904; 

•   amending Condition 6-4, and 8-1, and deleting 8B;  

•   adding ore dewatering, storage and ship loading facilities at Albany Port Berth 5;  

•   amending the Approved Proposal’s indicative disturbance footprint and the area (ha) of mine site remnant vegetation clearing to include all Approved and Revised Proposal elements. 

*Note: The Revised Proposal has a lesser area (3ha) of native vegetation clearing than the Approved Proposal (Combined Extent)

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.