Western Desert Resources Frequently Asked Questions

About the Project

 

 

Q. What does the Roper Bar Iron Ore Project involve?

Western Desert Resources (WDR) is conducting studies into the development of the Roper Bar Iron Ore Project following its lodgement of a Notice of Intent with the Northern Territory Government in May 2011.

The proposed project involves the development of an iron ore mine in the Roper Bar area of the Northern Territory, approximately 60 kilometres south of Ngukurr, and 50 kilometres from the Gulf of Carpentaria coast. The project will also include the development of support infrastructure facilities such as a workers camp, administration buildings and ore processing facilities.

The proposal involves an open pit operation where initially 3 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) of ore would be produced, increasing to 10 Mtpa as the project progresses. Majority of the 325 Mt ore reserve is close to the surface so we do not need to dig too far.

Once mined, the ore will be put through a primary crushing circuit and the Direct Shipping Ore (DSO) will be loaded onto large trucks. These trucks will travel along a new, purpose built 160km haul road from the mine to a loading facility where the DSO will be transported by barge to awaiting ships.

 

Q. Where will the proposed mine be located?

The proposed mine is about 60km south of Ngukurr and 50 km from the Gulf of Carpentaria coast.

Most of the tenements are on Crown land on the former Saint Vidgeon pastoral lease, which was abandoned in 1991.

 

Q. What product will be transported to the loading facility?

Once mined, the ore will be put through a primary crushing circuit resulting in a product called Direct Shipping Ore (DSO). The DSO will be loaded onto large trucks. These trucks will travel along a new, purpose built 160km haul road from the mine to a loading facility where the DSO will be transported by barge to awaiting ships.

 

Q. How do you plan to transport the iron ore?

A 160km private sealed road will be built to a loading facility where the iron ore will be fed onto a barging operation which will take it out to iron ore carriers waiting in the deep water, about 22km out to sea.

 

Q. Will the community have access to the haul road? 

At this stage, the haul road will be a private road, however the road will be well maintained and be handed over to the government at the end of the project. It will then be the Northern Territory Government’s decision as to its future use.

 

Consultation to date

 

 

Q. Has the local community and Traditional Owners been consulted about the proposed development?

Yes. We have been engaging with the local communities for the past 12 months and the feedback received has contributed to the direction of our project investigations.

Our consultation will be ongoing and we will be returning to the communities of Numbulwar, Ngukurr, Borroloola and Minyerri in mid-February 2012 to continue with our engagement and consultation.

The results from our consultation process will form an important part of our Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) submission.

 

Q. What discussions have you had with the Northern Territory Government regarding the proposed development? 

We have spoken with the government regarding the opportunity to develop an iron ore mine near Ngukurr in the Roper Bar area.

In May 2011 we lodged a Notice of Intent with the Northern Territory Department of Resources which covers the main components of the mine such infrastructure, work offices and access roads. This is the first component of our Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) which will continue to be worked on.  

 

Q. How can I have my say?

We invite and encourage everyone in the community to have their say. We want to ensure our consultation process is thorough, all inclusive and comprehensive. If you have any questions, please contact Noel Tomes from Western Desert Resources on 0409 611 900 or we are happy to make a meeting time with you.

There will also be an opportunity for people to view the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) during the public review period.

 

Project planning

 

 

Q. How will you protect sacred sites and song lines?

We respect the country we are working on and understand its cultural significance to local communities and Traditional Owners.

We are currently in the process of undertaking thorough, comprehensive environment and cultural heritage studies as part of our Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process.

We are working with Traditional Owners and the Northern Land Council anthropology division to identify all sites of cultural significance within the region. This information will allow us to mark the pathway for the proposed mine and haul road, and protect sacred sites and song lines in the area.

 

Q. Have you considered building a pipeline between the mine and Maria Island?

In the early stages of the project, a slurry pipeline to Maria Island was tabled as a transport option. However the 2010 and 2011 drilling results show nine years of direct shipping ore (DSO) is available for production. The transportation of DSO via a new, purpose build haul road presents a more feasible transport option for Western Desert Resources, and as such, this is now the focus of our investigations.

For the past 12 months, our team has been engaging and consulting with local communities about the proposed project. These discussions have provided us with an understanding of the opportunities and concerns community members have and this information has contributed to the direction of our ongoing project investigations.

Through listening to community and key stakeholder feedback, we have considered a range of options to transport the iron ore to loading facilities, then onto ocean-going export vessels. The haul road is the option that we are investigating and we are currently undertaking a feasibility study into this proposal.

 

Q. When do you plan to start mining?

There are still a number of milestones to reach before this time however we are working towards a commence date of early 2013.

We are currently in the process of consulting and engaging with the communities of Numbulwar, Ngukurr, Borroloola and Minyerri. The results of this consultation and engagement will be fed into the Social Impact Assessment as part of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) which will be submitted to the Northern Territory Government.

As our consultation progresses, so too will our environmental, cultural and feasibility studies with results from these studies feeding into the EIS to be submitted to government.

 

Q. How many additional jobs will be created by this development?

The workforce planning will be conducted as part of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) study, however should this project go ahead, it will provide employment opportunities for local people as well as opportunities for local businesses.

 

Q. What other economic and social benefits will the mine provide for the Roper Region?

The proposed mine will offer significant social and economic benefits to local communities and the region, including:

• Providing a major source of local jobs and training, including drilling jobs and truck driving
• Working with ranger groups on environmental programs and rehabilitation
• Improving the sustainability and social and economic resilience of local communities through the introduction of a social enterprise
• Local business opportunities
• Improved regional infrastructure

 

Q. Will you need to build a tailings storage facility as part of the project?

In the early stages of the project, we will not need a tailings storage facility as the project will be a pure direct shipping ore facility.  Some material is moved out of the way, such as overburden or waste rock, but there is no processing of wastes, so no tailings storage facility is required in the early stages.

Q. Will you need to build an Overburden Emplacement Facility?

We will need to build a rock dump where waste rock can be safely stored. This waste rock will be returned to the pit wherever possible as part of an overarching rehabilitation plan and program that will be developed with input from Traditional Owners and other local environmental service organisations (such as the Northern Land Council).

 

Q. How will you manage water at the mine? (i.e. ensuring there is no contamination of waterways, seepage, or runoff)

As part of our investigations, we have undertaken baseline water quality sampling. This process will continue to ensure we get at least 12 months of baseline data.

We have also undertaken thorough groundwater studies through the drilling of 10 environmental monitoring bores and the quality and aquifer testing of these bores. We are currently in the process of completing this report.

Surface water will be managed so as to prevent any sediment or water potentially laden with any other materials leaving the site.  There will be a detailed mine water balance developed and there will be sediment dams and water diversion structures installed to prevent water leaving the project areas.

Water will also be diverted around or away from the project areas so that clean water doesn’t enter the project areas and potentially become sediment laden.

The project will also use some water for dust suppression and haul road maintenance.

 

Q. What is the life of mine?

Around 9 years for the currently known resource of direct shipping ore.

 

Q. Will there be any jobs available for local people?

We will require an estimated 125 –150 workers for the construction and operation phase of the project. As part of our commitment to employ and train local people, Western Desert Resources will implement an employment strategy to encourage and retain local workers.

 

Q. Will you have an Indigenous employment strategy?

Yes, as part of our social enterprise scheme, there will be an Indigenous employment strategy developed and implemented for the Roper Bar Project.  

 

Q. Will Western Desert Resources establish a community benefits trust or similar?

A community benefit fund has been agreed upon by the Northern Land Council (NLC). This fund will benefit local community members and seek to build resilient, self-sustaining communities. The structure of how this program will work is the subject of ongoing discussions, and we are committed to keeping you up to date with progress.