The McGowan Labor Government has granted approval for Sinosteel Midwest Corporation’s Blue Hills Mungada East iron ore expansion, with strict conditions.
Environment Minister Stephen Dawson said the proposal’s environmental assessment process was thorough and appropriate. However, after weighing up the environmental, economic and social considerations, and noting the relatively small additional impact this proposal poses to the Mungada Ridge, the Government has formed the view that the proposal could proceed.
The strict conditions placed on Sinosteel Midwest include:
- detailed management and monitoring of flora and vegetation;
- ensuring that the project is rehabilitated and decommissioned in a manner that reflects the surrounding natural area to minimise impacts to visual amenity, and is consistent with the end land use for conservation and recreation;
- offsets to counterbalance the impacts of the proposal, including:
- establishing new self-sustaining populations of rare flora; and
- the relinquishment of a portion of the mining tenement on the Mungada Ridge landform.
The Blue Hills Mungada East expansion proposal is to construct and operate a hematite mine pit, waste dump, processing facility and haul roads 220 kilometres south-east of Geraldton.
Add Comment