Dugald River Base Metals Mine Project
OZ Minerals Australia Limited (100% owned by OZ Minerals Limited following the merger of Zinifex Limited and Oxiana Limited) proposes to develop a base metals mine located approximately 85 kilometres north-east of Mt Isa and 60 km north-west of Cloncurry, in north-western Queensland. The project consists of MDLs 79 & 363 and MLs 2467-71, 2477-82, 2496-99, 2500-02, 2556-59, 2596, 2599, 2601, 2638, 2684-85, 7496, 90047, 90049 & 90050-51.
OZ Minerals Australia Limited propose a zinc/lead/silver mining operation using mechanised underground technology and, potentially, conventional open cut methods. The expected mine life would be 16+ years with a mining rate of 2,000,000 tonnes a year (t/y) of zinc/lead/silver ore and production of 450,000 t/y of concentrate. An option exists for copper mining and concentrate production at rates yet to be determined, but in addition to, the above zinc/lead/silver stream rates.
Ephemeral watercourses in the eastern section of the Project drain in an easterly direction emptying into the Dugald River. In the western section of the Project, ephemeral creeks drain into Cabbage Tree Creek, which is a tributary of the Leichhardt River. The Dugald River runs adjacent to the Project site and is a tributary of the Flinders River which flows into the Gulf of Carpentaria 450km from the Project site. Water use downstream of the site consists of stock watering.
The Terms of Reference (TOR) has been completed and was issued to the proponent on Thursday 21 August 2008. A copy of the final TOR is available by accessing the link below. The proponent will now finalise the draft environmental impact statement addressing the requirements of the final TOR.
The process for the assessment of this project is as follows:
Copies of publicly available documents can be obtained by accessing the links below:
For further information about the EIS process for the Dugald River mine project contact the EIS Co-ordinator on telephone (07) 3227 6446. A copy of the final TOR and IAS and additional information about the project is also available by contacting AustralAsian Resource Consultants on (07) 3217 8772.
Last updated: 21 August 2008