West Angelas Revised Proposal

Overview

Robe River Mining Co. Pty Ltd. (the proponent) propose to develop new above and below water table iron ore mine pits and associated infrastructure to sustain existing West Angelas operations. The proposal is located approximately 130 kilometres northwest of Newman in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

The proposal will involve clearing of an additional 7,200 hectares (ha) of native vegetation (in addition to the 12,205 ha currently authorised under Ministerial Statement 1113) within a mine development envelope of 39,862 ha.  The mine development envelope is to increase by 13,162 ha as a result of the proposed change.

Key components of the proposal include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Development of new above and below water table mine pits at the existing operations at West Angelas at:
  • Western Hill
  • Deposit H
  • Deposit F-North
  • Mt Ella East
  • Deposit J.
• Groundwater abstraction and utilisation, and associated infrastructure.
• Dewatering and surplus dewater management including use in ore processing, onsite use including storage / discharge to disused mine pits, and discharge to creeklines during operations.
• Mineral waste management.
• Other associated mine infrastructure and support activities.

Why we are consulting

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.