Wateranga project (lapsed)
Queensland Industrial Minerals Pty Ltd was the proponent for the Wateranga Project. The project was proposed to be located approximately 80km south-west of Bundaberg, Central Queensland. The proponent had proposed to mine up to 4.5 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) of minerals (ilmenite, feldspar, apatite, muscovite, phlogopite, zircon, corundum and scandium) for at least 30 years.
The project was being assessed by a voluntary environmental impact statement (EIS) under Part 1 of Chapter 3 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994 (EP Act). The terms of reference was finalised and issued to the proponent on 3 November 2004. In September 2008 the proponent requested an extension to the period for submission of an EIS to 3 November 2010. In deciding this extension, the (then) Environmental Protection Agency by public notice sought comments on matters likely to be affected by the project that have arisen since 2004 and are not adequately described in the current terms of reference. Following a review of the terms of reference for the project in December 2008 (including receipt of submissions), an addendum to the terms of reference was issued to the proponent on 3 February 2009.
An EIS was not received by 3 November 2010. Consequently, the EIS process was suspended under section 67 of the EP Act and has since lapsed because twelve months has passed since suspension of the EIS process and the proponent has not submitted an EIS. An iteration of this project progressed under a separate (non-EIS) process. For further information please search the Queensland Government Public Register Portal for the latest environmental authority (permit number EPML00848413).
Queensland Industrial Minerals Pty Ltd is the proponent for a new eluvial and hard rock mine to be known as the Wateranga Industrial Minerals Project. The purpose of the mine is to win the minerals ilmenite, feldspar, apatite, muscovite, phlogopite, zircon, corundum and scandium. The proponent lodged a Voluntary EIS application for the project, which was accepted by the department on 8 June 2004. The department is managing the assessment of the project using the EIS process set out in Chapter 3, Part 1 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994.
The proposed project is in the North Burnett Region local government area, 80km south-west of Bundaberg, Central Queensland. The proposal involves mining up to 4.5 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) of minerals for at least 30 years. The proposed mining area of 1551ha is subject to a mining lease (ML) application (MLA 80116). Tailings produced from processing mineral ore would be de-watered and placed back into the void. Half the water separated from the tailings would be recycled in the processing plant. Additional processing water would be extracted from the Burnett River.
The mineral product is proposed to be transported to Bundaberg using semi-trailer and/or B Double trucks via the Gayndah-Mt Perry Road, travelling either north to Mt Perry, through Gin Gin to Bundaberg, or traveling south via Gooroolba to the rail head at Didcot and then either by rail to Bundaberg, or by road via Biggenden and Childers to the Port of Bundaberg.
Kalliwa Creek is a tributary of the Burnett River and is located 500m to the east of the proposed ML boundary. Goodnight Scrub National Park is situated 1km to the east of the ML boundary.
Following a review of the Terms of Reference for the project in December 2008 (including receipt of submissions), an Addendum to the Terms of Reference was issued to the proponent on 3 February 2009.
Documents
Publicly available documents can be obtained by accessing the links below.
Further information
For further information about the EIS process for this project, contact the EIS Coordinator on 13QGOV (13 74 68) or email eis@des.qld.gov.au.