Premier;Minister for State Development28/4/09 Media StatementEPA...

Premier;Minister for State Development

28/4/09 Media Statement

EPA report paves the way for 2,000 jobs through Gindalbie iron ore project.
Today’s Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) report, which pointed the way forward for
the development of the Gindalbie iron ore proposal, has been welcomed by Premier and State
Development Minister Colin Barnett.
Mr Barnett said that if approved by the Liberal-National Government, the project in Western
Australia’s Mid-West would generate about 2,000 jobs, further enhancing the State’s prospects
of working counter to the global economic crisis.
“The EPA’s view that mining in this area would not increase the threat status of species and
communities with the establishment of a Class A nature reserve and the implementation of the
recommended Ministerial Conditions in relation to vegetation, fauna and rehabilitation, is good
news for the State,” he said.
“We are a Government which makes decisions in the best interests of the State. We are
showing through our actions that development can be done while ensuring high environmental
standards are met.
“This project and others that are likely to follow, highlight the importance of the Oakajee Port
development as a world-class facility that will result in economic growth and provide jobs within
Western Australia and nationally.”
The Premier said he was encouraging the Federal Government to expedite Foreign Investment
Review Board approvals to enable the project to start sooner rather than later.
The Gindalbie project would potentially provide 1,500 jobs during construction and about 600
long-term jobs during operation.
The company was aiming to begin hematite production in the second half of 2010 at a capacity
of 10 million tonnes a year and magnetite concentrate in the first half of 2011.
The iron ore would be exported through Geraldton Port until Oakajee comes on stream in
2016.
In April 2009, the Liberal-National Government advised that a portion of the Mungada Ridge,
which was located in the Blue Hills Range, would be set aside as a Class A Nature Reserve
and protected from development. The EPA had supported this approach as one of the main
conditions that would enable the project to go ahead.

Media contact: Joey Armenti - 9222 9475 or 0438 948 172