PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Federal Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities Minister Tony Burke has approved the development of the Anketell Point port project, as proposed by ASX-listed Aquila Resources.

Burke has imposed 45 conditions on the project’s development, which he said would ensure that the project had no unacceptable impacts on the environment.

“My decision comes after a rigorous environmental assessment, and the key measures imposed to mitigate against environmental impacts include six management plans, an ecosystem monitoring programme and an environment protection code of conduct for employees during construction of the port,” Burke said.

The Minister noted that of particular importance was a dredge environmental management plan, which would put in place a dredge monitoring programme with water quality triggers and appropriate corrective actions.

“This plan will be developed, implemented and reviewed by a dredging technical advice group, made up of at least two independent scientific experts with relevant expertise and an independent dredging technical adviser,” he added.

The port would have an initial capacity of 115-million tons a year, and development would occur over 20 years, with the ultimate capacity expected to be around 350-million tons.

The project consisted of a deep-water port with iron-ore stockpiling, transfer and shiploading facilities.

Burke’s approval covered the development of a shipping channel, turning basin, berth pockets, causeway and jetty from Anketell Point, as well as onshore infrastructure, including stockpiles, ore processing facilities, a desalination plant, power station, car dumpers and road and rail links.

The federal approval followed Western Australia’s environmental approval in February this year, and meant that all primary approvals have now been granted for Aquila’s mine, rail and port elements of its West Pilbara iron ore project.

Burke said this week that his decision to allow the development of the Anketell Point port recognised the significant economic benefits to the local community, with the project having the capacity to create around 4 000 new jobs during construction and an operational workforce of approximately 900 personnel.

The development of Anketell Point port will allow the processing and export of iron-ore from the Australian Premium Iron Joint Venture's - between Aquila and American Metals and Coal International - previously approved West Pilbara iron ore project, with a capacity of 115-million tons a year.

The project approval will see Aquila construct a 15 km shipping channel, a 3 km approach jetty causeway, a 1.1 km jetty and associated shore-based infrastructure.