who here thinks firb will approve the deal??, page-9

Good News

Green light for Port Lincoln mining project
Advertiser
CAMERON ENGLAND
October 06, 2009 12:01am
A CONTROVERSIAL plan to export iron ore from Port Lincoln, opening the way for the region's first new iron ore mine in a century, will today receive State Government approval.

Urban Development and Planning Minister Paul Holloway will sign off on Centrex Metals' plan to export 1.6 million tonnes of iron ore through Port Lincoln for a period of 10 years.

The decision allows for the construction of a bulk materials handling facility in the city, a move that is sure to incense the local aquaculture industry, which has lobbied strongly to stop it going ahead.

The appproval signals the start of a new era in mining for SA as the first of a group of small companies with viable iron ore projects.

Centrex says the mine, 30km southeast of Lock, on the Eyre Peninsula, will inject $70 million into the regional economy each year, creating 120-150 full-time jobs and another 360-450 indirect jobs.

The Government said it was confident the project could operate safely within strict environmental controls.

"WHILE there has been local opposition to the project including concerns about the potential impact on the aquaculture industry, I am confident all environmental considerations have been taken into account in the conditions imposed on the development," Mr Holloway said.

"Mining and the aquaculture industry are both important to the economic future of South Australia and can co-exist in Port Lincoln through the safeguards imposed by the approval conditions."

The Australian Southern Bluefin Tuna Industry Association has strongly opposed Centrex's plan, saying it risked toxic phytoplankton outbreaks caused by iron ore falling into the water.

The industry is also concerned about the impact of Port Lincoln's clean, green image being tarnished.

Hagen Stehr, chairman of Clean Seas Tuna - a company employing about 200 people – has even threatened to move his operation to Mauritius if the Centrex plan goes ahead.

Centrex managing director Gerard Anderson has said previously the tuna industry association had selectively interpreted CSIRO data.

"Sampling endorsed by the Environment Protection Authority was undertaken to test whether or not the addition of (iron ore) would stimulate phytoplankton," the company said.

"That testing proved the addition of (iron ore) in amounts up to 10 times the worst-case dust losses as determined by CSIRO, concluded that there was zero change in phytoplankton number or growth, as a result of dosing with either Wilgerup (iron ore) or soluble iron."

Mr Holloway said 12 conditions had been imposed on the development, including:

A limited life of 10 years for the project.

UNLOADING of rail cars must not occur before 6am or after 10pm.

THE facility must be designed to ensure no visible iron ore dust is emitted at any stage of operations.

A MARINE monitoring program must be set up within three months.

SURFACE testing must also be done to measure iron ore levels in the area.



The Wilgerup project is designed to provide Centrex with early cash flow, to help fund its greater ambitions on the Eyre Peninsula.

This includes two five million tonne per year iron ore mines, being examined in a $186 million joint venture with Chinese company Wuhan Iron and Steel Corporation.

By the time these mines are ready to operate, Centrex hopes to have built a new bulk commodities port at Sheep Hill, northeast of Tumby Bay, where the company has bought 91ha of beachfront land.

The mining industry has also been lobbying the State Government for a bulk commodities port at Port Bonython, 35km northeast ofWhyalla.