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Project Detail

Project number OEPA:5
Project name

Iron Valley Iron Ore Project
Project status Current
Proponent(s) BC Pilbara Iron Ore Pty Ltd (Australian Company Number 107 492 517)
Project location

The Iron Valley tenement located approximately 90 kilometres north-west of Newman in the Shire of East Pilbara
Project bioregion(s) Pilbara
Assessment criteria Flora and Vegetation
Residual impact

Implementation of the proposal would result in the significant residual impact of clearing of up to 988ha of native vegetation in good to excellent condition
Offset conditions

7-1 In view of the significant residual impacts and risks as a result of the implementation of the Proposal (including impacts from the previously approved proposal under Ministerial Statement 933), the Proponent shall contribute funds for the clearing of ‘Good to Excellent’ condition native vegetation in the Hamersley and Fortescue IBRA subregions calculated pursuant to condition 7-2. 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.

7-2 The Proponent’s contribution to the initiative identified in condition 7-1 shall be paid biennially, the first payment due within twelve months following the issue of this statement, or as otherwise agreed in writing by the CEO. The amount of funding would be made on the following basis and in accordance with the approved Impact Reconciliation Procedure required by condition 7-3:
(1) $750 AUD (excluding GST) per hectare of ‘Good to Excellent’ condition native vegetation cleared within the Development Envelope (delineated in Figure 1 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 Development Envelope (delineated in Figure 1 and defined by the geographic coordinates in Schedule 2) within the Fortescue IBRA subregion.

7-3 Within six months of the date of this Statement, the Proponent shall prepare an Impact Reconciliation Procedure to the satisfaction of the CEO.

7-4 The Impact Reconciliation Procedure required pursuant to condition 7-3 shall:
(1) include a methodology to identify clearing of ‘Good to Excellent’ condition native vegetation in the Hamersley and Fortescue IBRA subregions;
(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) state that the first reconciliation period commences on 1 February 2013 and concludes on the date of this statement, and then biennially from this date.

7-5 The Proponent shall implement the Impact Reconciliation Procedure required by condition 7-3.

7-6 The real value of contributions described in condition 7-2 will be maintained through indexation to the Perth Consumer Price Index (CPI), with the first adjustment to be applied to the first contribution, based on the publication date of the previously approved proposal under Ministerial Statement 933.
Statutory process EP Act Environmental Impact Assessment (Part IV)
Approved project area (ha) 1177.0

Decision(s):

DECISION 1
Date: 2013-02-01 Ministerial statement: 933
DECISION 2
Date: 2016-12-08 Ministerial statement: 1044
OFFSET 1
Condition status: Current
Type(s): Offset funds
Rationale:

The EPA has proposed that a Pilbara strategic conservation initiative be established to provide a mechanism for implementing offsets in the region. This provides the opportunity to pool offset contributions from proponents to undertake coordinated conservation actions across the Pilbara IBRA bioregion. Consistent with Principle 6 in the WA Environmental Offsets Policy (2011), a strategic conservation initiative will ensure a consistent and transparent approach and contribute to longer term strategic outcomes.

There should be a clear target outcome for each offset project supported by the offset funds with a clear link between the outcomes and the significant residual impacts of the individual proposal. Funds should be used for landscape scale on-ground actions in the Pilbara IBRA region and indirect actions (such as research) that will directly contribute to biodiversity conservation outcomes in the region. Project funding for offsets should not be used to provide substitute funding for existing government programs or company obligations.

The EPA has adopted a funding metric to guide offsets contributions, based on the impacts of the proposal on good-to-excellent condition vegetation. Contributions are reconciled against actual clearing rates, further encouraging proponents to minimise clearing.

The condition requires a contribution of funding consistent with the EPA's recommended metric. The offset relates to impacts approved under Ministerial Statements 944 and 1044.
Security arrangements:

Governance arrangements:

Offset location:

All offset funds would be invested in the Pilbara IBRA region
Approved offset area (ha): None
Bioregion(s): Pilbara
Delivery agent:

CONDITION MILESTONE 1
Milestone:

Prepare an Impact Reconciliation Procedure to the satisfaction of the CEO.
Timeframe:

Within six months of the date of this Statement
Timeframe (date): 2017-06-08
Complete: No
  • No implementation milestones defined.

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