Newmont’s Boddington mine expansion in EPA assessment

The environmental watchdog will assess Newmont Corporation’s proposed Boddington mine extension, expecting impacts from the flagged clearing of 528 hectares of native vegetation.

Newmont proposed to expand the footprint of its gold mine located 12 kilometres northwest of Boddington and extend the life of the asset by five years to 2046.

The Environmental Protection Authority has decided to assess the proposal in a public environmental review, the highest level of assessment.

Newmont’s proposal will increase the clearing of native vegetation to 5,963 hectares and an overall disturbance to 8,483ha.

Other activities included in the proposal are bauxite preservation and stockpiling, expansion of the access road from Albany Hwy and potential discharge of treated water to the Hotham River.

In his determination, EPA chair Darren Walsh said there were potential impacts on flora and vegetation from the proposed additional clearing of 528 hectares of native vegetation.

“Several preliminary key environmental factors are complex,” the determination read.

“Detailed assessment is required to determine the extent of the proposal's direct and indirect impacts, and whether the EPA environmental factor objectives can be met.”

Other potential effects include the clearing of terrestrial fauna habitat, impacts on groundwater and surface water from continued abstraction and potential discharges, reduced amenity, and adverse impacts on nature-based tourism and recreation.

The determination also referenced potential impacts to Aboriginal heritage values and risk of contributing to climate change from greenhouse gas emissions.

The EPA’s decision is not appealable.

In its submission to the EPA, Newmont claimed the capacity of its tailing dams at Boddington would be exhausted by the end of the decade.

A new facility on site was proposed to extend the operating life of the goldmine, which is the state’s largest.