Name and Location
Yoongarillup mineral sands project, Australia.

Client
Doral Mineral Sands.

Project Description
The project, located 17 km south-east of Busselton, in Western Australia, includes the construction of offices, workshops, a laydown area, roads, ore-processing facilities, solar evaporation ponds, the backfilling of mined pits and the rehabilitation and decommissioning of disturbed areas.

The project is expected to extract four-million tonnes of ore to produce 256 000 t of heavy mineral concentrate over three years.

Ore from the deposit will be mined from a series of openpits using dry mining techniques, which requires the dewatering of groundwater.

The project will clear 8.9 ha of Whicher Scarp native forest ecosystem, located in State Forest, with the remaining 88 ha of the ground-disturbance area located on cleared farmland.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
Not stated.

Value
Not stated.

Duration
Not stated.

Latest Developments
The Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has approved the development of the Yoongarillup mineral sands project.

Several key environmental factors have been examined, with conditions recommended to address potential impacts to the environment, including the potential impacts on flora, vegetation and terrestrial fauna, as well as the potential for noise and dust, and the success of rehabilitating the area following the decommissioning of the mine.

Stringent conditions have been recommended, including the need for a flora and vegetation monitoring plan stipulating management and contingency actions to constrain the loss of vegetation to 8.9 ha.

The proposal is based on mining tenements also located within state forests and in a high biodiversity area. Prior to any clearing, the proponent will need to submit a clearing and rehabilitation plan to the office of the EPA to ensure clearing and mining is undertaken in stages to allow for progressive rehabilitation. “The proponent will also need to postpone clearing during the Black Cockatoos’ breeding season,” EPA chairperson Dr Paul Vogel has said.

The EPA’s report to the Environment Minister was open for a two-week public appeal period, closing July 27.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
None stated.

On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
Doral Mineral Sands tel +61 8 9725 5444 or fax +61 8 9725 4757.