IOH has win over Palmer
Iron Ore Holdings has had a win over Clive Palmer's Mineralogy.
The Mining Warden yesterday recommended the Kerry Stokes-backed company be granted disputed tenements on ground inside Mineralogy's Pilbara State Agreement.
IOH applied for two tenements across Mineralogy-held ground to build a 195km private haul road from its planned iron ore mine south of Panawonica to the Cape Preston port near Dampier.
About 75km of the road will run alongside the Dampier to Bun- bury gas pipeline on tenements controlled by Mineralogy.
Mineralogy objected to granting the tenements, arguing there could be valuable resources on the land.
A second company, Australasian Resources, which is controlled by Mr Palmer and run by Palmer United Party senator-elect Dio Wang, argued it had earmarked the tenements for possible construction of a tailings dam and storage facility.
But Mining Warden Kevin Tavener rejected Mineralogy's arguments, saying there was no evidence of a significant mineral deposit on the tenements and, in any case, the presence of the gas pipeline would hinder other use of the land.
Mr Tavener said there was no basis for a claim of public interest preventing Iron Ore Holdings from using the land for its haul road, recommending that Mines Minister Bill Marmion grant the two tenements.
Although Iron Ore Holdings plans to use North West Coastal Highway for the first two years of production from its planned $800 million Buckland iron ore mine, the private haul road is needed after that to allow use of super-sized road trains that would damage the public highway.
Iron Ore Holdings fell 2¢ yesterday to 96¢.
