EPA reviews Rio's Hope Downs 2 plan

Rio Tinto’s Hope Downs 2 iron ore project is expected to be subject to the highest level of scrutiny by the state’s environmental watchdog, after the potential impacts were found to warrant investigation.

Rio subsidiary Hamersley Iron is planning to clear one-third of its 14,000 hectare site to develop two new iron ore pits at Hope Downs 2, north-west of Newman.

The proposal would also include the construction of waste management infrastructure, processing facilities, workshops, hydrocarbon storage areas, access roads, railway crossing, conveyors, communications infrastructure, water supply, and power infrastructure.

The plan would also require the realignment of approximately six kilometres of the Great Northern Highway, as well as the construction of employee accommodation.

Rio lodged the proposal with the Environmental Protection Authority back in August, highlighting the potential impact the mine plan could have on native vegetation, fauna, greenhouse gas emissions and Aboriginal heritage values.

The 14,000 hectare site, south of the existing Hope Downs mine the company shares with Hancock Prospecting, is the subject of three native title determinations, including for the Nyiyaparli, Banjima and Ngarlawangga Peoples.

In a determination handed down today, EPA chair professor Matthew Tonts said a detailed review of the plan was required to gauge its direct and indirect impacts, as well as how those impacts could be managed.

The EPA recommendation is expected be the subject of a two-week public environmental review, before the Environment Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson makes a final determination.

The company had previously projected the Hope Downs 2 operation would be online between 2025 and 2027. 

Rio Tinto has been contacted for comment.