NOVEMBER 2015

Central Eyre Iron Project - Frequently Asked Questions regarding the applications for Iron Road’s Central Eyre Iron Project.

Please note that answers to questions relating to the specific content of the applications and its potential impacts are available from Iron Road’s website at: www.ironroadlimited.com.au

Central Eyre Iron Project - Frequently Asked Questions regarding the applications for Iron Road’s Central Eyre Iron Project...... 1

1. What is the Central Eyre Iron Project? ...... 2

2. What applications have been received by Government for the CEIP? ...... 2

3. What happens next - and when? ...... 3

4. Where can I access Iron Road’s applications? ...... 4

5. Can I get a printed copy of the applications? ...... 5

6. Why is Public Consultation being run on applications for the proposed mine and related infrastructure at the same time? ...... 5

7. How do I lodge a submission?...... 6

8. What is the process after the consultation period? ...... 6

9. How long will the proposal be open for public consultation? ...... 7

10. How can I get more information? ...... 7

11. How does Government know the mine won’t damage the environment? ...... 7

12. What are the benefits to local communities from having a major mining project in the region? 8

13. Isn’t this mine located on farming land? ...... 9

14. What comes next? ...... 10

15. If the project is approved, will Iron Road be required to use local businesses and suppliers? 10

16. Where can I find more information about this project and the assessment process? ...... 11

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1. What is the Central Eyre Iron Project?

Iron Road Limited is proposing to develop a magnetite iron ore mining and infrastructure project on . The proposed Central Eyre Iron Project (CEIP) consists of a mine (CEIP Mine) and associated infrastructure developments which provide the logistics pathways or support for the mining operations.

The applicant for the mining lease is IRD Mining Operations Pty Ltd (IRD Mining), a wholly- owned subsidiary of Iron Road. All references to Iron Road in these FAQ’s may be taken to refer to IRD Mining as well as Iron Road Limited.

The CEIP includes the following components:

Mine: An open cut magnetite iron ore mine, including mine pit, integrated waste landform and processing plant;

Port: A new deep water port facility at on the , including a 1.3km jetty and wharf structure with a conveyor and ship loader capable of loading Cape-size vessels;

Rail: A new 145km long standard gauge rail line from the mine to the port;

Water: A water supply bore field and pipeline ~60km south east of the proposed mine site;

Power: Electricity supply infrastructure from the Yadnarie substation and then joining up with the same corridor as the rail line and water pipeline; and

Accommodation: An accommodation village located immediately adjacent to the boundaries of the township of Wudinna.

2. What applications have been received by Government for the CEIP?

The CEIP is subject to both State and Commonwealth law.

Iron Road has made three applications:

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Mine: A Mining Lease Application, including a comprehensive Mining Proposal (MP) has been submitted for assessment under the Mining Act 1971. A decision on this application will be made by the Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy or his delegate.

Infrastructure: An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the infrastructure components (including a port, rail line, borefield, power and accommodation village), all of which have been declared a Major Development under s46 of the Development Act 1993, has been submitted for assessment. A decision on this application will be made by the South Australian Governor with advice from Cabinet.

Matters of National Environmental Significance: Content addressing potential impacts on Southern Wright Whales from shipping movements in the Spencer Gulf has been submitted in the EIS for assessment under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Commonwealth). A decision on this component of the application will be made by the Commonwealth Minister for Environment or his delegate.

Operational Approval: Should approvals be given under each of these Acts, activities could not commence until Iron Road gained approval for detailed operating plans addressing all conditions of those approvals.

3. What happens next - and when?

The formal lodgement by Iron Road of a MP and EIS initiates the South Australian Government processes under the Mining Act, Development Act and Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act.

The next step will be the statutory notifications to land owners and councils, and a formal public consultation process where the Government will be seeking community feedback on Iron Road’s applications.

Following the public consultation period, Government will provide the submissions received during the public consultation period to Iron Road. Iron Road must then develop a detailed

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response addressing the submissions received and submit this response document (also known as a Supplementary EIS) to government for consideration.

The Department of State Development (DSD) and the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure (DPTI) will then undertake a comprehensive assessment of Iron Road’s applications using technical specialists from across the South Australian Government’s regulatory agencies.

The assessments are informed by the MP and EIS documents, the submissions received during the public consultation process and the response document. Following that assessment, recommendations regarding the applications are made to the decision-makers relevant to each Act for their consideration on whether to approve, approve with conditions or refuse the application.

Once the applications are determined anyone who made a written submission will be advised of the outcome.

All information related to each step of the assessment will be available via www.ceipconsultation.sa.gov.au. This will include copies of the applications and responses, submissions from the public (unless confidentiality is requested), and - at the conclusion of the assessment process - the detailed South Australian Government Assessment Report, which sets out the assessment and conclusions of Government regarding the impacts and benefits of the proposed mine and infrastructure.

4. Where can I access Iron Road’s applications?

There are several options for accessing the applications made by Iron Road. The MP and EIS are available at:

• www.ceipconsultation.sa.gov.au

• Printed copies are available for public viewing at:

o District Council of Cleve, 10 Main Street, Cleve o Cleve School & Community Library, Second Street, Cleve (EIS only) o District Council of Kimba, Cross Street, Kimba 4

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o Kimba School Community Library, 69 West Terrace, Kimba (EIS Only) o District Council of Tumby Bay, Corner West Terrace and Mortlock Street, Tumby Bay o Tumby Bay School Community Library, West Terrace, Tumby Bay (EIS only) o Wudinna District Council, 11 Burton Terrace, Wudinna o Wudinna School Community Library, 30 Medley Terrace, Wudinna o Wudinna and Districts telecentre - 44 Eyre Hwy, Wudinna (MP only) o Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure - Level 5, 136 North Terrace, (EIS only) o Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure - Sales Counter, 101 Grenfell Street, Adelaide (EIS only) o Department of State Development – Minerals and Energy Resources – L7 101 Grenfell St customer service counter (MP only)

• Electronic copies (in USB format) on request

5. Can I get a printed copy of the applications?

There are several options for accessing the applications made by Iron Road. Copies of the applications are available at a number of councils and libraries on the Eyre Peninsula. Free electronic copies in USB format - allowing simple searching of key words – are available where project documents are available to be viewed.

Due to the significant cost and time required to produce printed copies of Iron Road’s applications, printed copies are not provided free of charge other than to owners and lessees of the land on and adjacent the proposed mining lease.

If you require a printed copy, the MP, EIS and related appendices are available at a subsidised cost of $150 for each component. Given the size of the documents it will take 2 to 3 days for copies to be produced and posted.

Printed copies may be purchased via the Department of State Development – Minerals and Energy Resources – L7 101 Grenfell St customer service counter, phone 08 8463 3000.

6. Why is Public Consultation being run on applications for the proposed mine and related infrastructure at the same time?

Given the direct relationship between the proposed mine and significant supporting port, rail, water, energy and accommodation proposals, the South Australian Government has 5

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organised an extended, combined consultation process for the CEIP. This provides all stakeholders with a single, central connection to government for comment on the overall project as well as individual aspects.

7. How do I lodge a submission?

A detailed guideline on how to prepare and lodge a submission is available at www.ceipconsultation.sa.gov.au

8. What is the process after the consultation period?

At the conclusion of the statutory consultation period, all public submissions received will be made available online and provided to the applicant, unless a submission contains slanderous or inappropriate language. Names and contact details will be removed if requested by the submittor.

While this ends the formal consultation process, the public will be able to follow progress through the remaining steps of the assessment via www.ceipconsultation.sa.gov.au.

Iron Road is then required to consider all of the public submissions received and prepare responses on the issues raised in relation to the MP and EIS (known as ‘response documents’ or ’supplementary EIS’).

Once the responses provided by Iron Road are deemed adequate, the Government will initiate a comprehensive technical assessment of each application, including the initial proposals, public submissions, and the response documents.

Under State law, the Governor of makes a final determination on the major development application based on an assessment report, and the Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy or his delegate makes a final determination in relation to the mining lease application. Under Commonwealth Law, the decision on actions which may impact Matters of National Environmental Significance is carried out by the Minister for the Environment or his delegate.

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9. How long will the proposal be open for public consultation?

Given the timing of the consultation, and the substantial nature of the parallel applications, an extended consultation period will be held for a total of 10 weeks commencing on 19 November 2015 and concluding on 2 February 2016. Submissions must be received by 5pm on 2 February 2016.

During the consultation period, public meetings will be held on 8 December 2015 in Port Neill, 9 December 2015 in Cleve and 10 December 2015 in Wudinna.

10. How can I get more information?

The project and its supporting documents are technical in nature so it is understandable that some people may want to ask questions of experts on specific matters. To facilitate this, public meetings will be held in three locations on the Eyre Peninsula early in the consultation period.

These meetings will take an ‘open house’ format which will run for 5 hours at each location. These sessions will include short presentations on the assessment process from Government and an overview of the project from Iron Road. Members of the public will have the opportunity to meet company representatives and ask questions they may have regarding a particular aspect and how it may possibly affect them. Government officers responsible for managing the assessment process will also be available to members of the public.

11. How does Government know the mine won’t damage the environment?

Mining and development proposals are subjected to comprehensive environmental assessment which considers all of the potential impacts that may arise from a mine and associated infrastructure during construction, operation and post mine completion.

The environmental assessment for the CEIP will involve technical specialists from across government including the Department of State Development, the Environment Protection Authority (EPA), the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure (DPTI), Safework SA, the Department of Primary Industries and Regions and the Department of Environment, 7

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Water and Natural Resources (DEWNR), as well as independent technical experts in specialist areas such as geotechnical engineering and geochemistry.

Environmental aspects that will be considered as part of the assessment include:

• Air Quality • Public Safety

• Noise and Vibration • Traffic

• Blasting • Socio-economic Impacts

• Soil/Land Disturbance • Land Access

• Native Vegetation • Groundwater

• Native Fauna • Marine Environment

• Visual Amenity • Adjacent Land Use and Protection of Third Party Property • Heritage • Weeds, Pests and Plant Pathogens • Surface Water

The detailed environmental assessment undertaken by Government will incorporate the Iron Road applications, submissions received during the public consultation period, and Iron Road’s response to those submissions.

At the conclusion of the environmental assessment the government will be in a position to make a recommendation, based on robust scientific evidence, to the relevant Ministers.

12. What are the benefits to local communities from having a major mining project in the region?

Iron Road have outlined the anticipated positive and negative impacts from their CEIP in their applications and at www.ironroadlimited.com.au

Potential benefits from mining could be expected to include stimulation of the economy and greater diversity in opportunities on the Eyre Peninsula and the broader State economy through job creation and increased demand for local skills and services; improved

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infrastructure and services for the community and businesses; and a stabilisation or growth in declining population levels in some centres.

There are also potential negative impacts and challenges for local and regional communities from any significant new development - the Government will consider the range of direct and indirect positive and negative impacts from the CEIP as a component of the balanced assessment process for Iron Road’s applications.

13. Isn’t this mine located on farming land?

The South Australian Government strongly believes that the coexistence of our agriculture, mining, energy, environment, community and other significant land users will continue to support both short and long term prosperity for our State, as it has throughout our history.

In South Australia, the rights of all land users are recognised and their intentions acknowledged and respected. Recognising the importance of this issue, the South Australian Government has taken a lead role in the development of a national Multiple Land Use Framework for maximising the benefits of our land assets for present and future generations of Australians.

Government assessment of all forms of development including mining is merit-based, and considers the benefits and consequences for other land users and the wider community. Comprehensive assessment processes take into account the location of any proposed development, including environmental, heritage, cultural value, commercial and land access issues.

All landholders and broader stakeholders of the CEIP are strongly encouraged to engage with Iron Road in relation to their project, and have an important opportunity to contribute to the assessment of Iron Road’s applications through making a submission to the public consultation process.

More information on making a submission on the CEIP can be found at www.ceipconsultation.sa.gov.au

More information on the national Multiple Land Use Framework can be found at http://www.scer.gov.au/workstreams/land-access/mluf/ 9

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14. What comes next?

The assessments being undertaken by Government represent the first of a two stage process for companies seeking to develop a mine and/or major infrastructure. Based on Iron Road’s applications, submissions received during the public consultation period, and Iron Road’s response to those submissions, the first stage is Government’s assessment of the potential environmental, social and economic impacts posed by the operations, the opportunity for mitigation or management of those impacts, and whether any residual impact posed by the project is acceptable. Government will then make the decision on whether to approve the project or not, and if so, the terms and conditions of that approval.

If the CEIP is approved, the next step would be the preparation of detailed construction, operation and closure management plans that describe how all conditions and requirements will be achieved. This would include all of the specific details of monitoring required to demonstrate the mine and infrastructure is performing as required. These plans must be approved before any mining operations or preparatory works can commence.

Prior to commencing operations, Iron Road would also need to secure access to any land required for their operations, secure funding, gain a range of other permits and licences relating to their proposed operations, and employ a workforce of staff and key contractors to support their proposed activities. Iron Road would also be required to pay a bond - money set aside for the purpose of rehabilitating the mine in the event a company fails to do so, ensuring environmental liability does not rest with the State.

15. If the project is approved, will Iron Road be required to use local businesses and suppliers?

The Government recognises the significant opportunity for local, regional and State businesses to benefit from participation in new major developments in the State. If the CEIP is approved, the Government would work closely with Iron Road to promote local content, to meet Iron Road's requirements under an Australian Industry Participation Plan setting out how Australian companies will have full, fair and reasonable opportunity to participate in the project.

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16. Where can I find more information about this project and the assessment process?

Further information on the assessment process, including the documents being assessed, and how to make a submission, can be found at: www.ceipconsultation.sa.gov.au

Further information on Iron Road’s project can be found at: www.ironroadlimited.com.au

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