Ore project's second wind
Environment Minister Albert Jacob has ignored the advice of the Environmental Protection Authority to breathe new life into a potential iron ore development in the Goldfields.
In a move labelled a "capitulation" by conservationists, Mr Jacob on Wednesday overruled the EPA's assessment from January, which claimed the Jackson 5 and Bungalbin East projects could cause "irreversible" damage to the protected Helena Aurora Ranges near Southern Cross.
Mineral Resources, through subsidiary Polaris Metals, appealed against the original decision and had heavyweight support from the mining lobby.
The Chamber of Minerals and Energy WA, Association of Mining and Exploration Companies and the Yilgarn Iron Producers Association all threw their hats in the ring for the appeal.
Mr Jacob ruled it was appropriate for the mining proposal to be reassessed by the EPA via a Public Environmental Review.
"The minister noted that nothing in his decision should be taken to imply that he has formed a view about the environmental acceptability of the proposal," the ruling said.
Mr Jacob called the review "an appropriate opportunity for proponent and public input into the assessment".
AMEC chief executive Simon Bennison said "commonsense has prevailed".
"The company has now suffered significant delays and additional costs in trying to get their project up and running," he said.
But Wilderness Society campaigner Peter Robertson said Mr Jacobs had "capitulated" to pressure from mining lobbyists.
"So, as far as our environment minister is concerned, the views of thousands of people as expressed via submissions and correspondence and the views of scientific experts dating back to 1980 are trumped by a handful of greedy miners in their pursuit of ever-shrinking profits," he said.
"For the EPA to go through a PER process will take many months and once again the public and scientists will have to explain why the mines are unacceptable.
"Given that the EPA is most likely to again recommend that the mines be rejected, based on 35 years of study, one can only assume that the minister wants to give the miners more time to get their PR and lobbying act together."
Mineral Resources managing director Chris Ellison welcomed the transparency of a public review, saying the company would minimise site disturbance, locate infrastructure away from sensitive areas and rehabilitate the sites.
Mr Ellison said the proposed mining operation would provide almost 2000 full-time equivalent jobs, comprised of both direct and flow-on employment in its operational phase.
"Development of mining operations at these deposits will provide a significant boost to the regional and State economy," he said.
YIPA chief executive David Utting said Mineral Resources adhered to the highest environmental standards.
"The PER now allows full and public scrutiny by miners and conservation groups," he said.
