Central Eyre Iron Project - Frequently Asked Questions Regarding the Applications for Iron Road’S Central Eyre Iron Project
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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 1 NOVEMBER 2015 1. What is the Central Eyre Iron Project? Iron Road Limited is proposing to develop a magnetite iron ore mining and infrastructure project on Eyre Peninsula. 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 Cape Hardy on the Spencer Gulf, 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: 2 NOVEMBER 2015 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 3 NOVEMBER 2015 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 NOVEMBER 2015 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, Adelaide (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