Aztec Resources Koolan Island 

In 2002 Aztec Resources began exploration works for iron ore on Koolan Island, situated in the Buccaneer Archipelago north east of Derby and previously mined by BHP Minerals.

Issues like the remote location, proximity to the marine environment, community concerns about the project’s impact, historic contamination issues and the presence of several protected flora and fauna gave the project considerable challenges. ecologia was there from the initial exploration works through to mine construction.

Aztec appointed an ecologia Environmental Manager for the project, and while working with geologists and drillers, our team assisted Aztec’s regulatory approvals process and management, which included;

• Obtaining required permits;
• Training staff and contractors;
• Facilitating community consultations;
• Conducting site inspections and biological surveys;
• Development of management plans;
• Regular site compliance audits; and
• Providing general environmental advice.

When the project reached the formal impact assessment phase, we assisted by;

• Conducting multi-seasonal botanical, vertebrate fauna, short range endemic and stygofauna surveys;
• Conducting an environmental impact assessment and developing the necessary documentation;
• Facilitating the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) assessment and appeals resolution processes.

The project received State Ministerial approval in 2006. ecologia also assisted in obtaining approval under the Environmental Protection & Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 due to the presence of the endangered Northern Quoll (dasyurus hallucatus).

During construction the company used our services to retain an experienced on-site environmental officer for day-to-day management duties. Koolan Island is now an active mine-site managed by Mount Gibson Iron. It is expected to reach its targeted ore production rate of 4Mtpa by December 2011.