sherlock nickel 40 klm from ronsard island

Iron ore port planned for Ronsard Island
Elizabeth Gosch
January 19, 2007

THE WA government has named Ronsard Island as its preferred site for a third port in the Pilbara region to cope with the massive demand for iron ore.
WA Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah Mac Tiernan said iron ore export demand was expected to outstrip the capacity of the existing ports in the area - Dampier, Port Hedland and Cape Lambert - within 10 years.

“With iron ore exports potentially growing from 235 million tonnes a year, to as much as 595 million tonnes over the next 10 years, we could need a major new iron ore port as early as in six years' time if the high growth scenarios are realised,” Ms MacTiernan said.

“While the capacity of existing ports could potentially be expanded from 240 million tonnes currently, to about 540 million tonnes, estimates for possible future export demand are as high as 890 million tonnes by 2025.”

A government commissioned study investigated six potential sites - Cape Preston, West Intercourse Island, Cape Lambert, Cape Thouin and Depuch Island at Sherlock River - but favoured Ronsard Island which is 80 kilometres west of the existing Port Hedland site.

Ms MacTiernan said further environmental, heritage, marine, geotechnical, geological and coastal engineering investigation would take place over the next 12 months with the new port ideally online by 2015.