PROPOSED OLYMPIC DAM EXPANSION

Release of the Environmental Impact Statement for public comment

BHP Billiton is currently seeking approval from the Australian, South Australian and Northern Territory governments to significantly expand its mining and processing operations at Olympic Dam in northern . The expansion centres on the creation of an open pit mine, which would operate simultaneously with the existing underground mine. New and expanded infrastructure and facilities to accommodate an expanded workforce would also be required.

Elements of the project are subject to the laws of three jurisdictions: · the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (as a nuclear action under the Act, the matter protected is the environment), · South Australia’s Roxby Downs (Indenture Ratification) Act 1982 and Development Act 1993 · Northern Territory’s Environmental Assessment (EA) Act 1982(in relation to the NT transport option only).

The three jurisdictions determined that the project would be assessed on the basis of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), to be prepared by BHP Billiton. Guidelines outlining the criteria that BHP Billiton needed to address in the EIS were publicly released in February 2006. As a result of changes to the proposed project, a second set of guidelines were published in November 2008. Separate guidelines for the NT transport option were also released at this time by the Northern Territory Government.

As the majority of operations associated with the mine are located in SA, the Government of South Australia is coordinating the EIS public submissions process on behalf of the three governments. All three governments will have access to all public submissions, and will undertake their own assessment of the EIS.

BHP Billiton has now prepared the EIS, which is being released for a fourteen (14) week public comment period from Friday 1 May 2009 until 5pm Friday 7 August 2009.

Viewing and/or obtaining the EIS

The EIS will be available for viewing at the following locations from 3 pm today:

Australian Capital Territory

· Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts Central Library, John Gorton Building, King Edward Terrace, Parkes, Canberra

South Australia

· Department of Planning and Local · Port Enfield Council, 163 St Government, Level 5, Roma Mitchell House, Vincent Street, Port Adelaide 136 North Terrace, Adelaide · City Council, 4 Mackay Street, · Barr Smith Library, University of Adelaide, Port Augusta North Terrace Campus, Adelaide (entry via · Port Augusta Public Library, 4 Mackay Gate 5, Frome Road) Street, Port Augusta · Conservation Council of South Australia, · Roxby Downs Community Library, 7 Level 1, 157 Franklin Street, Adelaide Richardson Place, Roxby Downs · State Library of South Australia, corner of · Municipal Council of Roxby Downs, North Terrace and Kintore Avenue, Adelaide Richardson Place, Roxby Downs · Flinders University Central Library, Flinders · Corporation of the City of , Civic University, Sturt Road, Bedford Park Building, Darling Terrace, Whyalla · University of South Australia Library, North · Alex Ramsay Library, 20-28 Ramsay Street, Terrace, Adelaide Whyalla Stuart · Civic Library, 3 Patterson Street, Whyalla Northern Territory

· Alice Springs Public Library, corner of · City Library, Civic Centre, Harry Chan Leichhardt and Gregory terraces, Alice Avenue, Darwin Springs · Karama Library, Karama Shopping Centre, · Environment, Heritage and The Arts Division corner of Kalymnos Drive and Karama (Department of Natural Resources, Crescent, Karama Environment, The Arts and Sport), 2nd · Nightcliff Library, 10-12 Pavonia Place, Floor, Darwin Plaza, 41 Smith Street Mall, Nightcliff Darwin · The Environment Centre of the Northern · Development Assessment Services Territory, Unit 3, 98 Woods St, Darwin (Department of Planning and Infrastructure), · Northern Land Council, 45 Mitchell St, Information Desk, Ground Floor, Cavenagh Darwin House, corner of Cavenagh and Knuckey · Katherine Town Public Library, Level 1 Streets, Darwin Randazzo Building, Katherine Terrace, · Minerals and Energy Information Centre, Katherine Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries · Litchfield Council, 7 Bees Creek Road, and Mines, 3rd Floor, Paspalis Centrepoint, Freds Pass 48 Smith Street Mall, Darwin · Environment Hub, Shop 9 Rapid Creek · Northern Territory Library, Parliament Business Village, Pearce Place, Millner House, State Square, Mitchell Street, Darwin · Palmerston City Library, Goyder Square, · Casuarina Library, 17 Bradshaw Terrace, The Boulevard, Palmerston Casuarina · Tennant Creek Public Library, Civic Centre, Peko Road, Tennant Creek

Copies of the EIS may be obtained via:

Internet download: the EIS, Appendices, and other explanatory information can be downloaded for free from the SA Department of Planning and Local Government website at: www.olympicdameis.sa.gov.au from 3 pm today. or

Phone request: A free ‘stakeholder kit’ which includes a hardcopy of the EIS Executive Summary, other explanatory information, and an electronic copy of the full EIS and appendices (in PDF format on DVD) is available by phoning the SA Department of Planning and Local Government (08) 8303 0724 or at the public meetings (see below for details). or

Hardcopy Purchase: The EIS and appendices can be purchased from:

· The Department of Planning and Local Government ph (08) 8303 0724 · The Municipal Council of Roxby Downs ph (08) 8671 0010 · The Port Augusta City Council ph (08) 8641 9100 · The Corporation of the City of Whyalla ph (08) 8640 3444

The EIS main report is available for $50 The EIS appendices are available for $20 per appendix (21 in total) The main report and all appendices can be purchased for $300 for the complete set.

Making a Submission on the EIS

The public is invited to comment on the EIS via written submission during the consultation period, which closes at 5 pm on Friday 7 August 2009.

Information about how to make a formal submission is available at www.olympicdameis.sa.gov.au or via phone on (08) 8303 0752. Public Meetings

Several public meetings will be held during the public consultation period at which information will be provided on the proposal by BHP Billiton and on the assessment process by the Government.

LOCATIONS DATE TIME Roxby Downs: Leisure Centre, Richardson Avenue 25 May 2pm – 8pm Port Augusta: Institute Building, Commercial Road 27 May 2pm – 8pm Whyalla: Westlands Hotel, Oasis Function Room 29 May 2pm – 8pm Adelaide: Convention Centre, North Terrace 2 June 2pm – 8pm Darwin: Crowne Plaza, 32 Mitchell Street 3 June 7.00pm Alice Springs: Crowne Plaza, 82 Barrett Drive 4 June 7.00pm

Please note that the Northern Territory meetings will focus solely on the NT transport option described in the EIS.

The Roxby Downs Development Plan Amendment

Concurrent with this process, a separate public consultation process regarding the Roxby Downs and Environs Development Plan Amendment (DPA) is being conducted by the SA Government. For further information on the DPA, please visit: www.planning.sa.gov/go/roxbydownsdpa or phone (08) 8463 7180.

Further Information

Further information on the proposed Olympic Dam Expansion Environmental Impact Statement can be obtained from www.olympicdameis.sa.gov.au, via email on [email protected] or via phone on 08 8303 0752.