Published Project View

Yandicoogina Iron Ore Project - Revised Proposal

Following the implementation of all mitigation measures the proposal would have the a significant residual impact of clearing of no more than 7400 ha of 'Good to Excellent' condition native vegetation, including:
- clearing of 69 ha of riparian vegetation of Weeli Wolli Creek;
- clearing of 40 hectares of riparian vegetation in Marillana Creek;
- loss of fauna habitat; and
- impacts from groundwater drawdown and surface water discharge to 650 ha of riparian vegetation.

7-1 In view of the significant residual impacts and risks (permanent and temporary) from the clearing of 5,600 ha of native vegetation including riparian vegetation as a result of implementation of the previously approved Proposal under Ministerial Statement 914 (Yandicoogina Iron Ore Project – Expansion to include Junction South West and Oxbow Deposits):
(1) the proponent shall contribute $3 million AUD (excluding GST) to a strategic conservation initiative for the Pilbara as determined by the Minister for Environment on advice of the Environmental Protection Authority and the Department of Parks and Wildlife.
(2) The contribution required by condition 7-1(1) shall be paid in full by 31 December 2016, unless otherwise agreed by the CEO.

7-2 The 5,600 ha of clearing previously approved under Ministerial Statement 914, referred to in condition 7-1, is exempt from the requirement to offset under condition 7-3.

7-3 In view of the significant residual impacts and risks as a result of implementation of the Proposal, the proponent shall contribute funds for the clearing of ‘Good to Excellent’ condition native vegetation in the Hamersley and Fortescue IBRA subregions and riparian vegetation of Weeli Wolli Creek, and calculated pursuant to condition 7-4. This funding shall be provided to a government established conservation offset fund or an alternative offset arrangement providing an equivalent outcome as determined by the Minister.

7-4 The proponent’s contribution to the initiative identified in condition 7-3 shall be paid biennially, the first payment due in the two years following the issue of this Statement. The amount of funding would be made on the following basis and in accordance with the approved Impact Reconciliation Procedure required by condition 7-5:
(1) $750 AUD (excluding GST) per hectare of ‘Good to Excellent’ condition native vegetation cleared within the Mine Development Envelope (delineated in Figure 2 and defined by the geographic coordinates in Schedule 2) within the Hamersley IBRA subregion;
(2) $1500 AUD (excluding GST) per hectare of ‘Good to Excellent’ condition native vegetation cleared within the Mine Development Envelope (delineated in Figure 2 and defined by the geographic coordinates in Schedule 2) within the Fortescue IBRA subregion; and
(3) $3000 AUD (excluding GST) per hectare of riparian vegetation cleared within the Mine Development Envelope (delineated in Figure 2 and defined by the geographic coordinates in Schedule 2) within the Fortescue IBRA subregion.

7-5 Within twelve months of the date of this Statement, the proponent shall prepare an Impact Reconciliation Procedure to the satisfaction of the CEO.

7-6 The Impact Reconciliation Procedure required pursuant to condition 7-5 shall:
(1) include a methodology to identify clearing of ‘Good to Excellent’ condition native vegetation in the Hamersley and Fortescue IBRA subregions, and riparian vegetation;
(2) require the proponent to submit spatial data identifying areas of ‘Good to Excellent’ condition native vegetation that has been cleared;
(3) include a methodology for calculating the amount of clearing undertaken during each biennial time period;
(4) state dates for the commencement of the biennial time period and for the submission of results of the Impact Reconciliation Procedure, to the satisfaction of the CEO; and
(5) spatially identified the area subject to condition 7-3.

7-7 The proponent shall implement the Impact Reconciliation Procedure required by condition 7-5.

7-8 The real value of contributions described in condition 7-4 would be maintained through indexation to the Perth Consumer Price Index (CPI), with the first adjustment to be applied to the first contribution.