Mt Gibson Mining’s Iron Hill Deposit project Environmental Impact Assessment (Public Environmental Review) document has now been released for public review, available from Mt Gibson Mining’s website. The project will form a southerly extension to Mt Gibson Mining’s approved Mt Gibson Ranges mine operations, expected to yield an estimated 5-7 million tonnes of iron ore having a gross economic value of approximately A$370million.
Globe Environments worked with Mt Gibson Mining between 2013-15 to project manage the Government approvals for the Iron Hill Deposit, starting from the initial concept stage with coordinating a range of environmental surveys, to then preparing the various environmental approvals documentation – including the initial versions of the draft Public Environmental Review) document that is now out for public review. We also prepared the referral documentation under both the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (WA) and the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (C’th), and coordinated many of the consultations with relevant Government agencies (e.g. Environmental Protection Authority, Department of Mines and Petroleum, Department of parks and Wildlife).
The key environmental assessment issue for the Iron Hill Deposit project is the direct and cumulative effect to the Rare Flora taxon Darwinia masonii – which has been recorded only from the Mt Gibson Ranges and is protected under both the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 (WA) and the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (C’th). Globe Environments prepared an assessment of the effect of the project using the IUCN criteria to demonstrate that the direct and cumulative effect of the Iron Hill Deposit project is not expected to change the current threat category ranking under the IUCN criteria.
We wish Mt Gibson Mining and their staff the best of luck with their future project approvals for the Iron Hill Deposit. Our personal thanks also to the range of supporting consultants we worked with and helped put the pieces of this project together – Bennelongia , Biologic , Eco Logical , En Peritus, Maia Environmental, MBS Environmental, MWH Global, SRK Consulting, Terrestrial Ecosystems & CAD Resources.
Stuart Hawkins