Published Project View

Pilbara Iron Ore and Infrastructure Project (Christmas Creek Mine, East-West Railway and Mindy Mindy Mine) - Revised Proposal

Clearing of up to 17,956 ha ‘Good to Excellent’ condition native vegetation in the Chichester and Fortescue IBRA subregions, the Fortescue Marsh Management Zone 1a and the proposed Fortescue Marsh Conservation Reserve.

11-1 The proponent shall provide direct funding to the Parks and Wildlife for the following:
(1) a contribution to a position within Parks and Wildlife of $250,000 AUD (excluding GST) per annum (indexed to the Perth All Groups consumer price index (CPI)) from 2016 until the end of 2024, to manage a Fortescue Marsh conservation program;
(2) contribution to a Weed Management Extension Program of $50,000 AUD (excluding GST) per annum (indexed to the Perth All Groups consumer price index (CPI)) until the end of 2024, to manage and reduce the weed populations within the Fortescue Marsh Management Area; and
(3) a one-off payment of $100,000 AUD (excluding GST) within 6 months of the issue of this Statement, for a Fortescue Marsh conservation area management plan to be developed by Parks and Wildlife.

11-2 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 Chichester and Fortescue IBRA subregions, the Fortescue Marsh Management Zone 1a and the proposed Fortescue Marsh Conservation Reserve, and calculated pursuant to condition 11-3. 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.

11-3 The proponent’s contribution to the initiative identified in condition 11-2 shall be paid biennially, the first payment due on 31 May in the second year following the issue of this statement. The amount of funding will be made on the following basis and in accordance with the approved Impact Reconciliation Procedure required by condition 11-4:
(1) $750 AUD (excluding GST) per hectare of ‘Good to Excellent’ condition native vegetation cleared within the Christmas Creek Mine Development Envelope (delineated in Figure 1 and defined by the geographic coordinates in Schedule 2) within the Chichester IBRA subregion;
(2) $1500 AUD (excluding GST) per hectare of ‘Good to Excellent’ condition native vegetation cleared within the Christmas Creek Mine Development
Envelope (delineated in Figure 1 and defined by the geographic coordinates in Schedule 2) within the Fortescue IBRA subregion; and
(3) $3000 AUD (excluding GST) per hectare of native vegetation cleared within the Fortescue Marsh Management Zone 1a and the proposed Fortescue Marsh Conservation Reserve (delineated in Figure 4 and defined by the geographic coordinates in Schedule 2).

11-4 The 10,135.5 ha of clearing in the Christmas Creek Mine Development Envelope approved under Ministerial Statement 707 is exempt from the requirement to offset under condition 11-3.

11-5 Within twelve months of the date of this Statement, the proponent shall prepare an Impact Reconciliation Procedure to the satisfaction of the CEO.

11-6 The Impact Reconciliation Procedure required pursuant to condition 11-5 shall:
(1) include a methodology to identify clearing of ‘Good to Excellent’ condition native vegetation in the Chichester and Fortescue IBRA subregions, and the Fortescue Marsh Management Zone 1a and the proposed Fortescue Marsh Conservation Reserve;
(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; and
(4) state that the biennial time period commences on the 1 March prior to commencing ground disturbance. State that the due date for submitting the results of the Procedure for approval of the CEO is 31 March following the end of the first biennial period.

11-7 The real value of contributions described in condition 11-3 will be maintained through indexation to the Perth Consumer Price Index (CPI), with the first adjustment to be applied to the first contribution.