Bell Creek Nornico project
QLD Gold Pty Ltd (a wholly owned subsidiary of Metallica Metals Limited) is currently developing a nickel and cobalt resource under existing Mining Leases (ML) ML4187 and ML4188 as well as Exploration Permit for Minerals (EPM) 11285 and EPM 14101. There are three main deposits at the project site, called Bell Creek, 30km south of Mt Garnet in the Herberton Shire in north Queensland. The proponent submitted to the department an application to prepare a Voluntary Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), and the EPA approved the application on 26 February 2007. The department is managing the assessment of the project using the EIS process set out in part 1 of chapter 3 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994 (EP Act).
Development of the Bell Creek deposit will involve shallow mining from five open pits. Ore treatment will involve crushing, screening, agglomeration, heap leach, iron removal, mixed hydroxide precipitation and spent ore disposal. Mining will occur at a rate of approximately 1.5 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of run of mine (ROM) ore for at least 10 years. Waste rock will be disposed to dumps on site, while the final pit voids will be backfilled or left in a safe condition.
Associated with the ore processing facility will be a sulfuric acid plant (using 406,000 tpa of sulphur and generating 10 mega watts of power), a limestone grinding and slurry plant using 350,000 tpa of limestone and a lime and magnesia plant using 96,000 tpa of slaked lime.
On-site purpose-built accommodation will be provided for the project workforce of 132 staff.
The project site is located in the upper catchment of the Herbert River. Water for the project will be sourced from groundwater, Bell Creek, or an impoundment on the ML, or a combination of these methods.
Vegetation on the site remains relatively undisturbed. While the proposed MLs will cover approximately 2,000ha it is estimated that 380ha of vegetation would need to be cleared for the mining, processing and other activities on site.
The process for the assessment of the Bell Creek Nornico Project is as follows:
The Terms of Reference was finalised and issued to the proponent on 26 July 2007. The proponent will now prepare the EIS. The EIS will then be made available for public notification.
Copies of publicly available documents can be obtained by accessing the links below:
- Terms of reference;
- Initial advice statement (project description); and
- Public notice (s 46 EP Act).
For further information about the EIS process for the Bell Creek Nornico Project, contact the EIS Co-ordinator on telephone (07) 3227 6446. A copy of the TOR and IAS and additional information about the project are also available from Metallica Minerals.
Last updated: 25 February 2008