Proposed Aurukun Bauxite Project Environmental Impact Statement

Closed: 13 November 2023
Topic: Environmental licensing and regulation
Type: Public notice and consultation
Region: Tropical North Queensland

Glencore Bauxite Resources Pty and MDP Bauxite Pty Ltd propose to develop the Aurukun Bauxite Project, located approximately 23km north-east of Aurukun in western Cape York. The project site is approximately 23,100 hectares covered by Mineral Development Lease 2001 held by the proponent and overlapping part of Mining Lease 7024 held by RTA Weipa Pty Ltd. The project would involve the development of a new open-cut bauxite mine and associated infrastructure.

Environmental Protection Act 1994 – Sections 51 and 52

Notice of Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
Proposed Aurukun Bauxite Project

An EIS for the proposed Aurukun Bauxite Project has been prepared by Aurukun Bauxite Management Pty Ltd for and on behalf of the Aurukun Bauxite Project Joint Venture, an unincorporated joint venture between Glencore Bauxite Resources Pty Ltd and MDP Bauxite Pty Ltd (the proponents). The project would involve the construction, operation, decommissioning and rehabilitation of a greenfield open-cut mine and associated infrastructure. The project would have an operating mine life of approximately 22 years. The project would be located approximately 23 kilometres (km) northeast of Aurukun, western Cape York. The project would cover approximately 23,100 hectares and include the mine site (located within Mineral Development License (MDL) 2001) and the Product Bauxite Transport Corridor (including a haul road and coastal loading facility) to the west of MDL2001 (crossing the adjacent Mining Lease (ML7024) held by RTA Weipa Pty Ltd). The proponents will undertake a future mining lease application process involving a mining lease for the mine site, a transportation mining lease for the haul road and a specific purpose mining lease for the coastal loading facility.

The project would involve the extraction of up to 15 million tonnes per annum (Mt/a) of run of mine (ROM) bauxite ore, equating to up to eight Mt/a of dry product bauxite. The project would involve the construction and operation of an on-site beneficiation plant to screen and wash ROM bauxite, requiring a 10.5 gigalitre water storage dam to meet mine water requirements. Product bauxite would be transported from the mine site to the coastal loading facility via the 15km haul road and loaded onto the transhipment vessel. Transhipping of product bauxite onto ocean-going vessels for export would take place approximately 18km (10 nautical miles) offshore. The project would also require construction of an up to 280-person accommodation village, power generation facilities, mine workshops, haul roads, stockpiles and infrastructure areas associated with mining activities. A mine access road would also be constructed off Aurukun Road to provide year-round access to the project.

Environmental Protection Act 1994 (Queensland)

Application was made by the proponents under section 70 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994 (EP Act) for a voluntary EIS for the Aurukun Bauxite Project. Under section 72 of the EP Act it was determined that assessment of the Aurukun Bauxite Project would be by EIS.

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Commonwealth)

The project was determined to be a controlled action (EPBC 2020/8624) under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). The controlling provisions are:

Listed threatened species and communities (section 18 and 18A)
Listed Migratory species (section 20 and 20A)
The Commonwealth marine area (section 23 and 24A).

The EIS process will assess the potential impacts of the project on the controlling provisions as an accredited assessment process under part 8 of the EPBC Act.

View the EIS online. Electronic copies can be ordered by phoning the proponents on +61 7 3833 8500 or emailing aurukun@glencore.com.au.

Written submissions in relation to the EIS are invited from any person within the submission period. The submission period commences on 11 September 2023 and concludes on 13 November 2023.

Submissions should be addressed to:

The Chief Executive
Department of Environment and Science
Attention: The EIS Coordinator (Aurukun Bauxite Project)
GPO Box 2454, Brisbane QLD 4001
400 George Street, Brisbane QLD 4000

Or by email to eis@des.qld.gov.au.

A properly made submission is one that:

is written
is signed by or for each person (“signatory”) who made the submission
states the name and address of each signatory
is made to the chief executive
is received on or before the last day of the submission period.

For further information regarding the EIS process for this proposal, contact the EIS Coordinator (Aurukun Bauxite Project) on 13 QGOV (13 74 68) or email eis@des.qld.gov.au.

Privacy Statement

Please note it is a statutory requirement that all submissions (including names and addresses) will be provided to the proponent as required under section 56 of the EP Act, so that they may consider them and provide a response to the department. This consultation is a public process, and any submission you provide may be published (including online) and may be transmitted outside of Australia. You may wish to bear this in mind when providing your submission. Your information will not be disclosed by the department to any other parties unless authorised or required by law.