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Mining project variations assessed in EES

Mining project variations assessed in EES

Kalbar Resources has identified variations to the mineral sands mining project at Glenaladale for assessment in the project’s Environmental Effects Statement (EES).

Kalbar has further refined the project to include additional options for transportation and water management to provide greater flexibility and reduce potential impacts where possible.

“As the EES technical studies have progressed, we have identified variations and refinements to the project to respond to transport, water and logistic issues, which have been accepted into the assessment by the Commonwealth Department of the Environment and Energy (DoEE),” Kalbar chief executive officer, Dr Victor Hugo, said.

Dr Hugo said variations to the project include water management measures to respond to concerns about surface water runoff, bore field investigations to explore the use of groundwater as an alternative water supply and investigation of rail sidings to shift mineral transportation from road to rail.

“The EES process requires us to identify all options for operating the project and to assess the impacts of various alternatives,” Dr Hugo said.

“Review of surface water management, tailings management, groundwater sources and transport options has identified variations that can reduce the impacts of the project, so they have been included for assessment as part of the EES process.”

These changes have resulted in a revised estimate of 360 hectares of total disturbed area due to mining operations at any one time. The additional area includes the site set aside for topsoil stockpiling and the management of surface water. The area required for mining itself has not changed.

Kalbar says it has developed options for the use of rail sidings at Fernbank or Bairnsdale to remove the transportation of mineral products by road and is investigating groundwater sources to meet the project’s water requirements.

“The measures are all aimed at addressing concerns about water and traffic implications of the project and identifying all the options in the assessment process,” Dr Hugo said.

Dr Hugo said that the variations to the project description have all been accepted by the Commonwealth and now form part of the environmental assessment.

The company is finalising the studies for the EES, which will soon be lodged with the Victorian Government for public release, feedback and formal assessment.


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