hapter 1 introdu tion - metro mining · hapter 1 - introdu tion gulf alumina ltd – skardon river...

CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTION

GULF ALUMINA LTD – SKARDON RIVER BAUXITE PROJECT

Skardon River Bauxite Project Chapter 1 - Introduction

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.1 Purpose .............................................................................................................1-1 1.2 Project Proponent ..............................................................................................1-1 1.3 Proponents Environmental Record and Environmental Policy ..............................1-1 1.4 Project Overview ................................................................................................1-2 1.5 Legislative Framework ........................................................................................1-2 1.6 Project Location and Mining Leases ....................................................................1-3 1.7 Project Description .............................................................................................1-6 1.8 Rehabilitation ....................................................................................................1-9 1.9 Social and Economic Benefits ..............................................................................1-9 1.10 Project Alternatives .......................................................................................... 1-10 1.11 Environmental Impact Assessment ................................................................... 1-11 1.12 Environmental Authority Process ...................................................................... 1-11 1.13 Assessment Methodology................................................................................. 1-11 1.14 Risk Based Assessment ..................................................................................... 1-12 1.15 Environmental Management ............................................................................ 1-16 1.15.1 Environmental Management Plan ........................................................................... 1-16 1.15.2 Monitoring and Measurement ................................................................................. 1-16 1.15.3 Records Management .............................................................................................. 1-16 1.15.4 Reporting, Corrective and Preventive Action ........................................................... 1-16 1.15.5 Audits ....................................................................................................................... 1-16 1.15.6 Management Review ............................................................................................... 1-17 1.16 EIS Document Structure .................................................................................... 1-17

Tables

Table 1-1 Consequence of Impacts .......................................................................................... 1-13 Table 1-2 Risk Analysis Matrix (Consequence and Likelihood) ................................................ 1-15 Table 1-3 Chapters Structure ................................................................................................... 1-18 Table 1-4 Appendix List ............................................................................................................ 1-19

Figures

Figure 1-1 Regional Project Location ........................................................................................... 1-4 Figure 1-2 Project Area, Skardon River and Offshore Activity Areas and Cadastral

Boundaries ................................................................................................................. 1-5 Figure 1-3 Proposed Project Layout ............................................................................................ 1-8


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1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Purpose

The purpose of this Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) document is to provide information to support the Skardon River Bauxite Project (the Project) environmental authority (EA) amendment application and Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) Referral.

The State and Commonwealth administering authorities must consider the environmental values of the area of the mining leases (MLs) and Project activities when it decides an application for an EA amendment in accordance with the Environmental Protection Act 1994 (EP Act) or a controlled action under the EPBC Act.

This document provides an assessment of the Project’s impact on the environmental values of the Project area and surrounds, including emissions and wastes from the Project. It assesses the risks to environmental values and proposes measures to mitigate impacts.

The EA process commenced on lodgement of the EA amendment application in March 2014. The Department of Environment and Heritage Protection (EHP) commence the decision stage for the grant of the EA once the EIS assessment report has been finalised. As the mining leases have already been granted, the EA will take effect on the day the EA is issued.

The approvals process for the Project is detailed in Chapter 2.

1.2 Project Proponent

The proponent, Gulf Alumina Ltd (Gulf Alumina) is a public company registered on 23 February 2004 in Sydney, NSW to explore and develop bauxite deposits in and around Australia. Gulf gained full ownership of the three Skardon River mining leases from ACC Ecominerals in January 2012. Gulf is currently the sole holder of the EA (EPML 00967013) for the Project’s three mining leases (MLs) - ML 40082, ML 40069 and ML 6025.

Gulf Alumina’s head office is located in Sydney at the following address:

Gulf Alumina Limited Suite 503, Level 5, 37 Bligh St, Sydney, NSW 2000 Telephone: (02) 9221 4689 Fax: (02) 9221 4686 Email: [email protected] Website address: www.gulfalumina.com.au ACN: 108 086 377

1.3 Proponents Environmental Record and Environmental Policy

The proponent has not been subject to proceedings under a law of the Commonwealth or State for the protection of the environment or the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources (and environmental law). Gulf Alumina’s environmental policy is provided in Appendix 11.

http://www.gulfalumina.com.au/


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1.4 Project Overview

The proposed Project involves mining of a bauxite ore body of 50 million tonnes (Mt). The planned mine production rate would initially be 3 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) initially and would rise to 5 Mtpa subject to market conditions. The operational Project life is expected to be 10 years, with a construction period of approximately 1 year and post mining decommissioning and final rehabilitation period.

The total disturbance area for the bauxite mine across all three mining leases is approximately 1,515 ha - of which 139 ha has already been disturbed as part of the historical kaolin mining. Therefore the proposed bauxite mine will create an additional 1,376 ha of new disturbance.

Bauxite products would be transported via the existing and new haul roads to the Port of Skardon River and transhipped by barge to bulk carriers in deep water beyond the mouth of the river for export.

Construction is planned to commence in 2016 and bauxite mining and shipping would commence in 2017.

1.5 Legislative Framework

The existing mining leases are subject to an existing environmental authority (EA), number EPML 00967013 (formerly MIN104486212). This EA relates to mining of kaolin on the mining leases, which has ceased. On 20 January 2014, the Department of Natural Resources and Mines (DNRM) approved the existing mining leases to include mining bauxite. Gulf applied for an amendment for bauxite mining within the existing mining leases in March 2014 as the current EA only allows for mining kaolin and operating an associated kaolin plant. Environment and Heritage Protection (EHP) decided that the proposed amendment was a major amendment under sections 228 and 229 of the EP Act. On 19 May 2014, EHP notified Gulf that the amendment application required assessment by environmental impact statement (EIS).

In May 2015, Gulf proposed a change to the EA amendment application under Sections 236 – 238 of the EP Act to include additional bauxite resources. In May 2015, EHP determined that the proposed changes would be assessed as part of this EIS.

The proposed Project was referred on 14 August 2014 to the Commonwealth Department of the Environment (DoE) (EPBC 2014/7305). On 11 September 2014, the Minister for the Environment determined the proposed Project to be a controlled action under the Commonwealth EPBC Act. The controlling provisions are sections 18 and 18A (listed threatened species and communities), 20 and 20A (listed migratory species) and 23 and 24A (Commonwealth marine areas). On 18 February 2015 DoE approved an application to vary the original Referral to include resource extraction within ML 6025 south of Namaleta Creek. On 22 April 2015, DoE approved an application to vary the original Referral to increase the depth of bed levelling and the volume of material to be transferred by bed levelling.

Gulf submitted an Initial Advice Statement (IAS) and the draft Terms of Reference (ToR) for the Project’s EIS in September 2014. Following Gulf’s responses to the comments received on the draft ToR (under Section 45 of the EP Act), the final ToR was approved on 15 January 2015.

The Project will be assessed under the bilateral agreement between the Commonwealth and the State of Queensland using the EIS prepared under the EP Act.

The Project approvals process, including approvals required under other legislation, is described in Chapter 2.


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1.6 Project Location and Mining Leases

The Project will be located on Cape York Peninsula, approximately 90 km north of Weipa, in the Parish of Skardon within the Cook Shire. The regional Project location is shown in Figure 1-1. The relevant mining tenures are granted ML 6025 (1922ha), ML 40069 (260ha) and ML 40082 (1,743ha). The Port of Skardon River is within the Project’s mining leases. Some Project activities will occur outside of the mining leases such as barging of bauxite on the Skardon River and offshore transhipment.

The Project area (Project mining leases), Skardon River and offshore activity areas, and underlying and adjacent cadastral boundaries are shown in Figure 1-2. The lots intersected by the Project’s mining leases are owned by the Old Mapoon Aboriginal Corporation - Trustee for the benefit of Aboriginal people particularly concerned with the land and their ancestors and descendants, and under the Aboriginal Land Act 1991.

A detailed description of the Project location is provided in Chapter 4.

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1.7 Project Description

A detailed description of the Project activities is provided in Chapter 5.

The Project involves the construction and operation of an open cut bauxite mine in Western Cape York Peninsula. The Project involves mining a bauxite ore body of around 50 million tonnes (Mt) and is anticipated to initially produce 3 million tons per annum (Mtpa) bauxite suitable as direct shipping ore (DSO), which is expected to rise to 5 Mtpa subject to market conditions.

The DSO bauxite mining method involves vegetation clearing and grubbing, harvesting topsoil and subsoil, mining bauxite, placing mined subsoil on mined pit floor, placing harvested topsoil on subsoil and rehabilitating mined areas. The bauxite within the mining leases is less than 3 m thick, with an average DSO thickness of 1.7 m, and does not extend more than 6 m below the surface. Conventional open cut mining will be carried out after removing the topsoil and subsoil. Mining will occur 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Mining of DSO bauxite is planned to occur during the dry season with shut down during heavy rain periods of the wet season, approximately 3 months from January to March.

DSO does not require beneficiation of the bauxite and hence beneficiation and associated tailings management are not part of the Project. The option for DSO bauxite therefore results in lower environmental impact than beneficiation of bauxite by avoiding tailings management and associated additional water and energy requirements.

The bauxite ore will be mined and transported via existing, upgraded haul roads to a crushing and stock pile facility at the Port of Skardon River. The bauxite product will be barged to bulk carrier vessels in deep water approximately 15 km beyond the mouth of the river for export. Construction is planned to commence in 2016 with bauxite mining and shipping in 2017 after the wet season period. For the purpose of feasibility study mine planning, it is assumed that mining commences in April 2017.

Life of Project activities and infrastructure that form part of the EIS assessment for the Project include:

A new wharf / barge loading facility within the Project’s existing mining leases and the gazetted Port

of Skardon River, constructed using piles and dolphins.

Barging of bauxite to the offshore transhipment location in deep water approximately 15 km

offshore from the Skardon River mouth, and transfer from barges to bulk carriers.

Bulk carrier movements with Australian waters.

Bed-levelling at the mouth of Skardon River to a depth of approximately 2.2 m below lowest

astronomical tide (LAT). Bed levelling would involve underwater reprofiling of shallow areas at the

seaward extent of the Skardon River mouth by pushing the crests of sand banks into deeper gutters.

No dredging is proposed; however, annual maintenance bed levelling is likely to be required.

Upgrade of the existing boat ramp and jetty infrastructure at the Port to improve access for vessel

supply of fuel, consumables, materials and site equipment.

New bauxite ore dump facility, mobile crushers, conveyor belt system and bauxite product stockpile

facility, all adjacent to the Port of Skardon River landing.

New workshop, warehouse, administration and crib room at the Port of Skardon River.

Additional bulk fuel storage if required, new fuel transfer pipeline, diesel transfer tanks and export

waste storage at the Port of Skardon River.

Use of existing landfills and, potentially a new landfill, for limited waste disposal.

Upgrade of the existing 15 km north-south haul road from the Port to the former wet plant area; a

new haul road system surrounding the kaolin mine overburden piles, upgrade of the crossing of

Namaleta Creek and an additional 1.5 km of haul roads south of Namaleta Creek.


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Temporary branch haul roads would be used to link with the existing haul road.

Upgrade of the existing accommodation camp from 50 beds to 150 beds for the construction

workforce and maintained for mining operation, and upgrade of the sewage treatment system.

Use of the existing airstrip and relocated airstrip later in mine life, primarily for transport of workers.

A process water pumping station at the existing kaolin mine water storage pits with existing pipeline

to transfer water to water storage tanks at the Port of Skardon River. This pipeline will run adjacent

to the existing north- south haul road.

Upgrading or replacing the existing sediment retention dam for stormwater run-off from

infrastructure and stockpile areas at the Port of Skardon River.

Power will be supplied by three 1MW generators fitted on semi-trucks.

The proposed Project layout, with all mining areas and the Port infrastructure area is shown in Figure 1-3.

Water supply and mine site water management is described in Chapter 6. The annual water requirements for dust suppression, watering haul roads and plant and equipment washdown would be sourced from the existing kaolin mine water storages and shallow groundwater aquifers.

The offshore transhipment would occur in a defined area where bulk carriers (e.g. Panamax ships) will anchor. Barges will anchor adjacent to the bulk carriers for loading of bauxite ore.

Two barges, with a capacity of about 4,000 to 7,000 t per barge, will transfer bauxite ore to the bulk carriers, which will have an approximate capacity of 75,000 deadweight tonnes (dwt). Barges would work 24 hours (although crossing of the Skardon River mouth would be limited to approximately 18 hours of the day to avoid low tide), 7 days a week with a loading rate up to 2,000 tonnes/hour, for approximately 40 weeks per annum (i.e. excluding the wet season). At a bauxite production rate of 5 Mtpa, this will result in approximately 1.5 bulk carrier shipping movement per week, or 65 to 70 bulk vessel movements per annum.

It is expected that an average of 100 people will need to be accommodated during the bauxite infrastructure construction period of 30 weeks with a maximum workforce of 120 people. The Project would require approximately 160 employees during operation. Employees will be on a shift roster and hence not all employees will be at site at any one time. Employees would be accommodated in the upgraded accommodation camp during the construction and the mining operation phases. The Project workforce will be transported to the site by air and will be accommodated in camp on the Project area. The workforce will be 100% fly in fly out (FIFO), as it is not practical for the workforce to access the Project by road.

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No warranty is given in relation to the data (including accuracy, reliability, completeness or suitability) and accept no liability (including without limitation, liability in negligence) for any loss, damage or costs (including consequential damage) relating to any use of or reliance upon the data. Data must not be used for direct marketing or be used in breach of privacy laws. Imagery sourced from Gulf Alumina (2014). Tenures © Geos Mining (2015). State Boundaries and Towns © Geoscience Australia (2006).

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1.8 Rehabilitation

Project rehabilitation and decommissioning is detailed in Chapter 7.

A Rehabilitation Management Plan (RMP) will be developed to ensure that land disturbed by mining operations is effectively rehabilitated such that:

the agreed post-mining land use (likely native vegetation) is achieved

the site is stable, non-polluting and safe to humans and animals

stable environmental conditions are established which are able to be sustained

all relevant statutory requirements are complied with.

Progressive rehabilitation will occur throughout the life of the Project. Decommissioning and final rehabilitation of areas used for mining will be outlined in a Mine Closure Plan (MCP) and specific rehabilitation completion criteria, indicators and monitoring methods, will be provided in the RMP.

On the completion of mining, the following treatments will be undertaken:

Infrastructure will be removed and dismantled where required unless the landholder (Traditional

Owners) requests otherwise.

Vegetation cover will be restored and land will be returned to its agreed post-mining land use.

Erosion and sediment control structures will be constructed to maintain topsoil cover, landform

stability and prevent sedimentation of waterways.

Contaminated land will be remediated and assessed for any potential future contamination issues.

1.9 Social and Economic Benefits

The social and economic benefits and impacts of the Project are described in Chapter 25. In summary:

Capital expenditure of approximately $61 million will be invested into the economy.

Operational expenditure of approximately $134 million per annum will be invested into the

economy.

Approximately 160 direct jobs and many more indirect jobs will be created during operations.

Approximately 100 direct jobs and many more indirect jobs will be created during construction.

Royalties of approximately $325 million over the life of the Project will be generated.

Taxes of approximately $434 million over the life of the Project will be generated.

Indigenous groups will receive benefits under the current traditional owner agreement.

Indigenous landowners will receive a share of mining lease royalty payments.

The Port of Skardon River (as operated by Ports North) will be further developed.

Infrastructure (airstrip, accommodation, dams, roads and Port) will be upgraded or developed. In

agreement with the landowners (traditional owners), these may be retained to improve the

functionality of the land.

Commitments by the proponent to assist with land management type activities (e.g. weed and pest

management and fire management) will be implemented.

Economic stimulation generated as a result of wages and additional demand for goods and services is expected to have beneficial effects at the local level. Revenue generated for the state and federal government in the form of taxes and royalties will assist in the funding of a wide range of services to the


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benefit of the community. The Project is expected to have a beneficial impact on Indigenous people residing in the local area and Cape York region through the provision of increased business opportunities, employment, education and training opportunities.

1.10 Project Alternatives

Project alternatives are considered in terms of location of activities, design of infrastructure and types of activities proposed.

The location of mining is dictated by the location of the bauxite resource. However where the bauxite resource encroaches on sensitive areas (e.g. low lying areas such as wetlands or tidal areas) buffer areas have been proposed that will limit encroachment. Bauxite mining is proposed using conventional open cut methods, with various options for the type of excavation and haulage equipment.

The proponent has elected to direct ship ore. This means that no beneficiation of the bauxite ore and resulting tailings management is required. As a consequence significantly less water is required for the Project, thereby minimising impacts on water sources, and there are no impacts associated with tailings management.

The proponent has taken advantage of existing infrastructure in the Project area, associated with the former kaolin mine, to minimise the Project disturbance area. This includes using the existing Port area, airstrip, camp and haul roads. Two options were considered for the haul road crossing of Namaleta Creek. The preferred option involves upgrading the existing crossing of Namaleta Creek. The second option involved extending the haul road along the eastern and southern boundary of the mining leases, with a crossing of Namaleta Creek upriver from the existing crossing. The preferred option was selected as it minimises the ecological and hydrological impacts in comparison to the second option, minimises haul distance and potentially improves hydrological flows compared to the current crossing design.

The Project area is located in a remote area that is not feasibly accessible by public road by the workforce or for the supply of equipment, fuels and material. Therefore the proponent intends to transport workers by air, and equipment, fuels and material by sea. No off tenement road upgrades are proposed, thereby avoiding disturbance activities off tenement.

The options considered for water supply to the Project have focussed on supply from existing dams associated with the former kaolin mine and, when required, extraction from shallow aquifers. This avoids the need to construct additional surface water collection dams or target water from deep aquifers associated with the Great Artesian Basin, thereby minimising hydrological impacts from sourcing water for the Project.

The Port of Skardon River (and its associated disturbance area and infrastructure) already exists and hence the proposal to upgrade the infrastructure at the Port for the Project will result in the least amount of additional impact. Various options are being considered for the exact location of additional or upgraded Port infrastructure, but these are all centred on the existing Port location. The wharf upgrade at the Port will be designed and located to avoid the need for dredging, thereby minimising impacts on the marine environment. The wharf construction method (piles and dolphins) minimises impacts to the marine environment in comparison to other construction methods.

Due to the shallow depth of the mouth of the Skardon River, some bed levelling is required so that barge movements between the Port and the offshore transhipment area are economic. Having barges with a draft shallow enough to cross the mouth of the Skardon River would result in inefficiencies and increased vessel movements. In order to minimise impacts, dredging, involving removal, transport and disposal of subsurface materials at an alternative location, is not proposed. The proponent has balanced the minimum depth of bed levelling required with the need to operate barges efficiently.

In order to minimise the offshore transhipment impact, no fixed infrastructure is proposed offshore.


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Should the Project not proceed, the economic and social benefits summarised in Section 1.9 and Chapter 25 will not be realised. This EIS describes the potential social, economic and environmental impacts of the Project and measures to manage and mitigate those impacts. On balance the socio-economic benefits of the Project outweigh the residual social, economic and environmental impacts of the Project.

1.11 Environmental Impact Assessment

The purposes of an environmental impact assessment and production of an EIS, as addressed in this EIS are as follows:

to assess the potential adverse and beneficial environmental, economic and social impacts of the

Project; and management, monitoring, planning and other measures proposed to minimise any

adverse environmental impacts of the Project

to consider feasible alternative ways to carry out the Project

to give enough information about the above matters to the Commonwealth and State authorities

and the public

to prepare or propose environmental management plans for the Project to inform the

environmental authority application

to give information to other Commonwealth and State authorities to help them make informed

decisions

to meet any assessment requirements under the EPBC Act as the Project is a controlled action under

a bilateral agreement;

to allow the State to meet its obligations under a bilateral agreement.

1.12 Environmental Authority Process

The EA process commenced on lodgement of the EA amendment application. EHP will commence the decision stage for the grant of the EA once the EIS assessment report has been finalised.

As the mining leases are granted, the EA will take effect on the day the EA is issued.

Chapter 4 of the EP Regulation prescribes the regulatory requirements with which the administering authority is required to comply for making environmental management decisions — including the issuing of an EA. To facilitate this, EHP has developed a set of model conditions for resource projects, which form the basis for proposed EA conditions and general environmental protection commitments in the EIS. The EIS describes impact mitigation measures in the context of these model conditions.

Environmentally relevant activities (ERAs) are prescribed activities for which approval is required. The ERAs potentially triggered by the Project are described in Chapter 2. Under Schedule 2A of the EP Act, the Project is for ‘mining bauxite’ which has an aggregate environmental score (AES) of 97.

1.13 Assessment Methodology

The methods used to obtain and present the information in this EIS include:

desktop review of regulatory requirements and relevant government policies and guidelines

desktop review of available data from local, state and federal government data sets (including EIS

material from nearby mine projects)

baseline environmental studies, including fieldwork (undertaken as denoted in chapters)


Page 1-12

Page 1-12

identification and assessment of potential impacts requiring assessment through specialist studies

including baseline studies

community consultation

compilation of relevant information in the EIS documents.

The impact assessment examines the existing environmental values of the Project area for each element of assessment and then determines the potential impacts associated with the Project’s construction, operation, decommissioning and rehabilitation phases. Where required, baseline studies were undertaken to establish environmental values.

1.14 Risk Based Assessment

A risk framework has been adopted to assess the risk to the environment, people, land use / property and the community from Project activities. The risk framework combines the consequence and likelihood of a particular impact, after consideration of proposed mitigation measures (i.e. residual risk), and assigns a risk level of low, medium, high or extreme.

The consequence (incorporating duration, magnitude and intensity) of the impacts to the environment, people, land use / property and the community is described in Table 1-1 for consequences that are insignificant, minor, moderate, major and severe. Consequence is considered in relation to the existing environmental conditions and sensitivity of the value, receptor or resource.

Table 1-2 describes the likelihood of a particular impact and combines this with consequence to determine a risk ranking.

Sk

ard

on

Riv

er B

auxi

te P

roje

ct

C

hap

ter

1 -

Intr

od

uct

ion

Pag

e 1

-13

Pag

e 1

-13

Tab

le 1

-1

Co

nse

qu

ence

of

Imp

act

s

Typ

e o

f Lo

ss

Co

nse

qu

en

ce

1

(In

sign

ific

ant)

2

(M

ino

r)

3 (

Mo

de

rate

) 4

(M

ajo

r)

5 (

Seve

re)

Imp

act

to

Pe

op

le

Min

or

inju

ry.

Slig

ht

neg

ativ

e im

pac

t o

n in

div

idu

al

hea

lth

.

Sign

ific

ant

rep

ort

able

in

jury

Maj

or

imp

act

on

hea

lth

o

f se

vera

l peo

ple

.

Maj

or

inju

ry t

o o

ne

or

mo

re p

erso

ns.

Seve

re h

ealt

h im

pac

ts

on

a n

um

ber

of

peo

ple

.

Sin

gle

fata

lity

Seve

re ir

reve

rsib

le d

isab

ility

o

r im

pai

rmen

t.

Mu

ltip

le f

atal

itie

s.

Maj

or

per

man

ent

neg

ativ

e h

ealt

h im

pac

ts o

n a

larg

e n

um

ber

of

peo

ple

Imp

act

to

Pro

per

ty

/ La

nd

Use

Co

uld

cau

se m

ino

r d

amag

e <$

10K

C

ou

ld c

ause

mo

der

ate

d

amag

e $

10K

to

$1

00

K

Co

uld

cau

se m

ajo

r d

amag

e $

10

0K

to

$1

M

Co

uld

cau

se s

ever

e d

amag

e $

1M

to

$1

0M

U

np

lan

ned

min

e cl

osu

re

dam

age

>$1

0M

<1%

of

pro

per

ty

dir

ectl

y im

pac

ted

1

– 5

% o

f p

rop

erty

d

irec

tly

imp

acte

d

5 -

20

% o

f p

rop

erty

d

irec

tly

imp

acte

d

20

- 5

0%

of

pro

per

ty d

irec

tly

imp

acte

d

>50

% o

f p

rop

erty

dir

ectl

y im

pac

ted

Insi

gnif

ican

t ch

ange

to

wat

er a

vaila

bili

ty

Min

or,

tem

po

rary

ch

ange

to

wat

er a

vaila

bili

ty w

ith

al

tern

ativ

e su

pp

lies

read

ily a

vaila

ble

Maj

or,

tem

po

rary

ch

ange

to

wat

er

avai

lab

ility

wit

h

alte

rnat

ive

sup

plie

s av

aila

ble

Seve

re, l

on

g te

rm c

han

ge t

o

wat

er a

vaila

bili

ty w

ith

al

tern

ativ

e su

pp

lies

dif

ficu

lt

to o

bta

in

Per

man

ent

chan

ge t

o

wat

er a

vaila

bili

ty, n

o

alte

rnat

ive

sup

plie

s

Insi

gnif

ican

t in

dir

ect

imp

acts

, lan

d

pro

du

ctiv

ity

un

chan

ged

Mo

der

ate

ind

irec

t im

pac

ts w

ith

iso

late

d

chan

ges

to la

nd

p

rod

uct

ivit

y, e

asily

m

itig

ated

Mo

der

ate

ind

irec

t im

pac

ts w

ith

bro

ad

chan

ges

to la

nd

p

rod

uct

ivit

y, r

equ

irin

g st

and

ard

mit

igat

ion

s

Seve

re in

dir

ect

imp

acts

wit

h

larg

e sc

ale

chan

ges

to la

nd

p

rod

uct

ivit

y, r

equ

irin

g co

mp

lex

mit

igat

ion

s

Cat

astr

op

hic

ind

irec

t im

pac

ts w

ith

per

man

ent

chan

ges

to la

nd

p

rod

uct

ivit

y th

at c

ann

ot

be

mit

igat

ed

Sk

ard

on

Riv

er B

auxi

te P

roje

ct

C

hap

ter

1 -

Intr

od

uct

ion

Pag

e 1

-14

Pag

e 1

-14

Typ

e o

f Lo

ss

Co

nse

qu

en

ce

1

(In

sign

ific

ant)

2

(M

ino

r)

3 (

Mo

de

rate

) 4

(M

ajo

r)

5 (

Seve

re)

Imp

act

to

Envi

ron

me

nt

Neg

ligib

le r

ever

sib

le

envi

ron

men

tal

imp

act

req

uir

ing

very

min

or

or

no

re

med

iati

on

. A

lte

rati

on

or

dis

turb

ance

to

ec

osy

stem

wit

hin

n

atu

ral v

aria

bili

ty.

Min

or

reve

rsib

le

envi

ron

men

tal i

mp

act

req

uir

ing

min

or

rem

edia

tio

n. M

easu

rab

le

chan

ges

to e

cosy

stem

co

mp

on

ents

.

May

re

sult

in s

mal

l d

ecre

ases

to

a lo

cal

po

pu

lati

on

th

at w

ou

ld b

e re

solv

ed w

ith

ou

t fu

rth

er

mit

igat

ion

. An

y p

op

ula

tio

n

chan

ges

resu

ltin

g fr

om

m

ino

r im

pac

ts w

ou

ld f

all

wit

hin

nat

ura

l flu

ctu

atio

ns

of

a lo

cal p

op

ula

tio

n, t

hat

is

, wit

hin

th

e n

orm

al

carr

yin

g ca

pac

ity

of

the

area

.

Mo

der

ate

reve

rsib

le

envi

ron

men

tal i

mp

act

wit

h s

ho

rt t

erm

eff

ect

req

uir

ing

mo

der

ate

rem

edia

tio

n.

Mea

sura

ble

ch

ange

s to

ec

osy

stem

co

mp

on

ents

w

ith

ou

t m

ajo

r ch

ange

in

fun

ctio

n. R

eco

very

in 1

-

2 y

ears

fo

llow

ing

the

even

t.

May

res

ult

in a

su

bst

anti

al c

han

ge t

o a

lo

cal p

op

ula

tio

n, w

hic

h

wo

uld

no

t le

ad t

o

exti

nct

ion

at

any

leve

l.

Maj

or

en

viro

nm

enta

l im

pac

t w

ith

med

ium

ter

m e

ffec

t re

qu

irin

g si

gnif

ican

t re

med

iati

on

. Mea

sura

ble

ch

ange

s to

eco

syst

em

com

po

nen

ts w

ith

maj

or

chan

ge in

fu

nct

ion

. Rec

ove

ry

in 3

- 1

0 y

ears

fo

llow

ing

the

even

t.

May

be

det

rim

enta

l or

to t

he

spec

ies

or

com

mu

nit

y at

a

po

pu

lati

on

sca

le. H

igh

n

egat

ive

imp

acts

may

re

sult

in

loca

l ext

inct

ion

or

dec

lines

an

d a

co

nse

qu

ent

sub

stan

tial

d

ecre

ase

in a

bu

nd

ance

an

d

po

pu

lati

on

via

bili

ty a

t la

rger

sc

ales

. Hig

h n

egat

ive

imp

acts

m

ay a

lso

be

qu

alif

ied

by

the

con

serv

atio

n s

tatu

s o

f th

e va

lue

bei

ng

affe

cted

.

Extr

eme

en

viro

nm

enta

l im

pac

t w

ith

lon

g te

rm

effe

ct r

eq

uir

ing

maj

or

rem

edia

tio

n r

egu

lato

ry

inte

rven

tio

n o

r p

rem

atu

re

clo

sure

of

the

op

erat

ion

. Lo

ng

term

an

d p

oss

ibly

ir

reve

rsib

le d

amag

e to

1 o

r m

ore

eco

syst

em f

un

ctio

ns.

R

eco

very

, if

at a

ll, >

10

ye

ars

follo

win

g th

e ev

ent.

Wo

uld

res

ult

in t

he

regi

on

al e

xtin

ctio

n o

f a

spec

ies

or

com

mu

nit

y o

r in

ca

tast

rop

hic

dec

lines

an

d a

co

nse

qu

ent

sub

stan

tial

d

ecre

ase

in a

bu

nd

ance

an

d

po

pu

lati

on

via

bili

ty a

t th

e N

atio

nal

or

Stat

e s

cale

.

Imp

act

to

Co

mm

un

ity

Slig

ht

neg

ativ

e

imp

act

on

ind

ivid

ual

s in

loca

l

com

mu

nit

y.

Flar

e u

p o

f is

sues

in

affe

cte

d c

om

mu

nit

ies.

Med

ia c

riti

cism

.

Sign

ific

ant

pu

blic

crit

icis

m, e

.g.

com

mu

nit

y co

mp

lain

ts.

Med

ia o

r N

GO

‘tak

e u

p

the

issu

e’.

Maj

or

neg

ativ

e im

pac

t

on

eco

no

mic

via

bili

ty.

Loss

of

com

mu

nit

y’s

eco

no

mic

via

bili

ty. S

ign

ific

ant

dam

age

to r

ep

uta

tio

n o

f th

e

op

erat

ion

s.

Pu

blic

inte

rnat

ion

al

con

dem

nat

ion

. Maj

or

bre

akd

ow

n o

f so

cial

ord

er

in a

ffec

ted

co

mm

un

ity.

Sk

ard

on

Riv

er B

auxi

te P

roje

ct

C

hap

ter

1 -

Intr

od

uct

ion

Pag

e 1

-15

Pag

e 1

-15

Tab

le 1

-2

Ris

k A

na

lysi

s M

atr

ix (

Co

nse

qu

ence

an

d L

ikel

iho

od

)

C

on

seq

uen

ce

Ty

pe

of

Loss

1

(In

sign

ific

ant)

2

(M

ino

r)

3

(Mo

der

ate

) 4

(M

ajo

r)

5

(Sev

ere)

Likelihood

A

(Alm

ost

C

erta

in)

The

even

t h

as o

ccu

rred

fre

qu

entl

y: o

ccu

rs o

ne

or

mo

re

tim

es p

er y

ear

and

is li

kely

to

re

-occ

ur

wit

hin

1 y

ear

>90

%

chan

ce

Med

ium

(M

) H

igh

(H

) H

Ex

trem

e (E

) E

B

(Lik

ely)

The

even

t h

as o

ccu

rred

bu

t is

no

t fr

equ

ent:

occ

urs

less

th

an o

nce

per

yea

r an

d is

like

ly t

o r

e-o

ccu

r w

ith

in 5

ye

ars

50

-90

%

chan

ce

M

M

H

H

E

C

(Po

ssib

le)

The

even

t h

as h

app

ened

in t

he

bu

sin

ess

in t

he

pas

t 1

0

year

s o

r co

uld

hap

pen

wit

hin

th

e n

ext

10

yea

rs

30

-50

%

chan

ce

Low

(L)

M

H

H

H

D

(Un

likel

y)

The

even

t h

as h

app

ened

in t

he

bu

sin

ess

in t

he

pas

t 2

0

year

s o

r co

uld

hap

pen

wit

hin

th

e n

ext

20

yea

rs

10

-30

%

chan

ce

L L

M

M

H

E (Rar

e)

The

even

t h

as n

ever

bee

n k

no

wn

to

occ

ur

in t

he

bu

sin

ess

and

it is

hig

hly

un

like

ly t

hat

it w

ill o

ccu

r w

ith

in

less

th

an t

he

nex

t 2

0 y

ears

<10

%

chan

ce

L L

M

M

M


Page 1-16

Page 1-16

1.15 Environmental Management

1.15.1 Environmental Management Plan

Gulf Alumina has prepared an environmental management plan (EM Plan) for the Project based on the information provided in this EIS, which is provided in Appendix 13. The EIS covers all aspects of environmental management for the Skardon River Bauxite Project, as required by the Project’s ToR.

Gulf Alumina manages the decommissioned kaolin mine (in care and maintenance) under a Plan of Operations and Rehabilitation Plan, with the current plan covering the period from February 2015 to February 2016. Financial assurance has been provided to the State, based on the expected rehabilitation of the kaolin mine. Much of the infrastructure (e.g. wet plant) has been decommissioned and removed from the site. In addition, the existing EA for the mining leases conditions environmental management of the kaolin mine whilst in care and maintenance.

The EM Plan covers the proposed Project and rehabilitation of the decommissioned kaolin mine that formerly operated on the Project’s mining leases (MLs), previously owned and operated by ACC Ecominerals and Skardon River Kaolin (SRK). The EM Plan provides the framework for environmental management of kaolin mine and Project activities during construction and operation. Where required, plans for environmental management during construction and operation activities will be developed prior to those activities commencing, and will be based on the EM Plan.

1.15.2 Monitoring and Measurement

The proposed monitoring plan for each environmental value is contained within the chapters of this EIS. Environmental monitoring will address meeting any EA conditions and environmental legal obligations, implementation of the operational controls developed, as well as progress towards objectives and targets. Monitoring plans will be developed that outline the environmental monitoring to be undertaken, including monitoring sites, parameters, frequency, procedures or methods, and records to be kept. Monitoring records will be kept and results reviewed on an as required basis to determine ongoing compliance.

1.15.3 Records Management

Records will be kept to demonstrate compliance with the EA and other identified environmental legal obligations.

1.15.4 Reporting, Corrective and Preventive Action

Statutory reporting requirements will be identified as part of the environmental legal obligations and undertaken as per the reporting requirements. To ensure continual improvement, any non-conformance with the EA conditions will be investigated and reported as per the EA requirements, including corrective and/or preventative actions. Where identified, amendments will be made to environmental management plans, EA or operational procedures or plans, based on the outcomes of investigations.

1.15.5 Audits

An audit schedule will be developed to ensure the effective implementation of environmental management and compliance with the EA and other legal obligations. Internal audits will be conducted at regular intervals to cover the scope of all environmental requirements and will be planned based on environmental risk and previous performance.


Page 1-17

Page 1-17

1.15.6 Management Review

A management review will occur on an annual basis to determine the suitability, adequacy and effectiveness of environmental management. Audit results, evaluations of environmental legal compliance and compliance with the environmental objectives will be taken into consideration. The output of the management review will include changes to environmental objectives and targets and the environmental policy consistent with the commitment to continual improvement.

1.16 EIS Document Structure

The structure of this EIS is provided in Table 1-3 and Table 1-4 below comprising:

chapters describing the approvals process, the Project and, for each identified environmental

aspect, the environmental values, potential impacts, risk assessment and mitigation measures

appendices supporting the chapters, including management plans, draft environmental authority

conditions (as proposed by the proponent) and specialist technical reports on identified

environmental aspects.


Page 1-18

Page 1-18

Table 1-3 Chapters Structure

Chapter Chapter Title

Executive Summary

1 Introduction

2 Approvals

3 Public Consultation

4 Location

5 Construction and Operations

6 Water Management

7 Rehabilitation and Decommissioning

8 Non-mining Waste

9 Climate

10 Geology, Topography and Soils

11 Land Use and Land Contamination

12 Water Values and Quality

13 Hydrology and Hydrogeology

14 Flooding

15 Terrestrial Ecology

16 Aquatic Ecology

17 Coastal Processes

18 Marine Ecology

19 Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas

20 Noise and Vibration

21 Landscape and Visual Amenity

22 Transport and Maritime Operations

23 Hazards and Safety

24 Cultural Heritage

25 Social and Economic Impacts

26 Matters of National Environmental Significance

27 References


Page 1-19

Page 1-19

Table 1-4 Appendix List

Appendix Appendix Name

1 Commitments Register

2 Acronyms and Abbreviations

3 Terms of Reference cross-reference table

4 Water Management

5 Terrestrial Ecology

6 Aquatic Ecology

7 Stygofauna

8 Marine Ecology and Coastal Processes

9 Air Quality

10 Noise and Vibration

11 Gulf Alumina Ltd Environmental Policy

12 EPBC Act Protected Matters Search

13 Environmental Management Plan

14 Draft Environmental Authority Conditions

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