Rocklands Copper Project
Cudeco Limited is the proponent for a new open-cut copper mine to be known as the "Rocklands Copper Project". The proponent submitted to the department an application to prepare a Voluntary Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), and the EPA accepted the Voluntary EIS application on 13 November 2006. 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).
The proposed Rocklands Copper Project is located 90km east of Mt Isa and 15km west of Cloncurry on mining lease application (MLA) 90177, overlying part of the Chumvale pastoral lease, within Cloncurry Shire Council, north-western Queensland. Development of the Rocklands Copper Project will be by conventional open-cut truck and excavator, mining primarily copper (but also gold and cobalt) ore from up to four open-cut pits for between 10-20 years, to produce 100,000 tonnes per annum of copper. The following options are available to process the run-of-mine (ROM) ore:
- process ore on-site and transport the copper concentrate to Mt Isa for smelting or export;
- crush and screen the ROM ore on-site and/or transport the ore by conveyor, truck or rail to a third party for processing; or
- crush and grind the ROM ore and transport the ore as a slurry via a pipeline to a third party for processing.
If Option 1 is implemented and ore is processed on-site, tailings storage facilities will need to be constructed for waste disposal and containment. Final voids will remain post-mining and be used for cattle watering, or bunded if water quality is unsuitable for cattle.
Most of the project site drains into Morris Creek which runs along the southern boundary of MLA90177 and flows into Cloncurry River about 15km downstream. The northern end of the site drains into Tommy Creek and flows into Corella River about 20km downstream. Creek diversions and levee banks may be required, depending on the delineation of the ore resource and the final location of the open-cut pits.
Groundwater has been found at an average depth of 25m and may be used to meet some site water supply requirements, which range between 5-12 megalitres of water per annum, depending on whether on-site ore processing is a viable option. Another water supply option involves pumping water from Lake Julius via the Ernest Henry pipeline.
On-site purpose built accommodation will be provided for the project workforce. However, some of the workforce may wish to reside in the nearby centres of Mt Isa and Cloncurry.
The process for the assessment of the Rocklands Copper Project is as follows:
The Terms of Reference was finalised and issued to the proponent on 6 June 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:
- Final Terms of Reference;
- Initial Advice Statement (Project description); and
- Public Notice (s46 EP Act).
For further information about the EIS process for the Rocklands Copper Project, contact the EIS Co-ordinator on telephone (07) 3224 8149. A copy of the final TOR and IAS and additional information about the project is also available from the Cudeco Limited website at: www.cudeco.com.au
Last updated: 28 April 2008