FORMAL ASSESSMENT – The EPA will formally assess this project.

PUBLIC ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW

Weld Range Iron Ore Project approx 85km SW of Meekatharra. (6 week public review period).

The Sinosteel Midwest Joint Venture (SMJV) Weld Range project is located 65 kilometres southwest of Meekatharra and 60 kilometres northwest of Cue in Western Australia. Its tenements comprise a series of hills that rise approximately 250 metres above the surrounding plains. The range is some three kilometres wide and extends for up to 60 kilometres in length from south west to north east. The range consists of a series of parallel ridges with deep incised valleys. High grade iron ore mineralisation occurs within the Weld Range area as a series of outcroppings of massive goethite-haematite lodes. Many of these outcroppings have been identified within these tenements.

The Weld Range project is a direct shipping iron ore project with high potential due to major high grade outcrops over a 60 km strike length. The current resource represents only 6 km of the strike length. The target reserve is a minimum of 225 million tonnes and planned shipment rate of 15 million tonnes minimum per annum over 15 to 20 years.

ecologia Environment has been engaged by SMJV to facilitate the environmental approval process.  This role involves:

• assisting the proponents when liaising with Government, public stakeholders and contractors;
• providing advice to SMM on the environmental requirements for the project approvals process;
•  undertaking the required environmental impact assessment studies;
• providing specialist technical advice on environmental matters; and
• preparing the environmental documentation required to be submitted to Regulatory Authorities.  

For more information see the PER.