Doral’s mineral sands project gets environmental nod
PERTH (miningweekly.com) – The Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has given its approval for the development of the Yoongarillup mineral sands project, about 17 km south-east of Busselton.
The project, being developed by unlisted Doral Mineral Sands, will extract four-million tonnes of ore, to produce 256 000 t of heavy mineral concentrate over a three-year mine life.
Ore from the deposit will be mined from a series of opencut pits using dry mining techniques, which requires the dewatering of groundwater. The project will clear 8.9 ha of Whicher Scarp native forest ecosystem located in state forest with the remaining 88 ha of the ground disturbance area located on cleared farmland.
EPA chairperson Paul Vogel said on Monday that several key environmental factors had been examined, with a suite of conditions recommended to address potential impacts to the environment.
“The EPA tested this proposal against several key factors including the potential impacts on flora, vegetation and terrestrial fauna, as well as the potential for noise and dust and the success of rehabilitating the area following the decommissioning of the mine.”
Vogel said eight stringent conditions had been recommended, including the need for a flora and vegetation monitoring plan stipulating management and contingency actions to constrain the loss of vegetation to 8.9 ha.
“While the proposal is on mining tenements, it is also located within state forest and in a high biodiversity area. Prior to any clearing, the proponent will need to submit a clearing and rehabilitation plan to the office of the EPA to ensure clearing and mining is undertaken in stages to allow progressive rehabilitation,” he said.
“The proponent will also need to postpone clearing during the Black Cockatoos’ breeding season.”
The EPA’s report to the Environment Minister would be open for a two-week public appeal period, closing July 27.
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