The environmental watchdog has backed Rio Tinto’s expansion of its West Angelas iron ore operation but with conditions to mitigate impacts on Karijini National Park.
The environmental watchdog has backed Rio Tinto’s expansion of its West Angelas iron ore operation but with conditions to mitigate impacts on Karijini National Park.
Rio Tinto’s subsidiary Robe River Mining proposed to develop new water table deposits and associated infrastructure to continue the life of West Angelas, about 130 kilometres north-west of Newman.
Robe River referred the proposal to the Environmental Protection Authority and has amended the application since the original referral, including adding solar energy generation and a reduction in the proposed clearing by 25 per cent.
The EPA has recommended that the expansion be approved subject to groundwater and dust conditions to mitigate impacts to the national park.
EPA chair Darren Walsh said the independent authority had considered the cumulative impacts of all current and future proposals in the vicinity, and key environmental factors of flora, inland waters, greenhouse gas emissions and social surroundings.
“To protect environmental and cultural values within the adjacent Karijini National Park, the EPA has recommended conditions for inland waters and dust,” he said.
“Conditions include the submission of a performance report to demonstrate the effectiveness of mitigation measures to manage impacts.”
Mr Walsh said using the company’s existing infrastructure, including railway and ports, power, communication and road networks, had reduced the extent of the new infrastructure required and led to a smaller disturbance footprint.
The EPA’s report is open for a three-week public appeal period.
Environment Minister Matthew Swinbourn will make the final decision on the West Angelas expansion application.
The EPA approved a West Angelas mine expansion with a disturbance footprint of 12,205 hectares in a 28,322-hectare development envelope in 2019.
After applying for another environmental review of another expansion to the mine in 2021, Rio Tinto proposed to clear an additional 5,350ha of vegetation and 8,457ha of the development envelope.
Documents submitted to the EPA in December 2023 shows the proposed clearing threshold was increased to 17,555 hectares of native vegetation in a revised development envelope of 36,779 hectares.
Robe River is a joint venture between Rio Tinto, with a 53 per cent shareholding, Mitsui at 33 per cent and Nippon Steel holding 14 per cent.
