Referral summary · EPBC Act Public Portal

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<p>The Northern Silica Project (NSP) is a propsoed silica mine within a known silica province that extends from Cape Bedford to Cape Flattery, located 15km to the southwest of the Port of Cape Flattery and immediately adjacent (to the south) to the world's largest high quality silica sand mine, Cape Flattery Silica Mine (CFSM).</p><p>The NSP consists of a series of proposed mining leases (MLAs) that are detailed in Table 1.1 (R.A11701.005.01_EPBC-ReferralSupportingMaterial_NSP.pdf, Section 1.1.1, p.11).</p><p>The NSP proposed Project Area is approximately 5695.71 hectares (ha) illustrated in Figure 1.4 (R.A11701.005.01_EPBC-ReferralSupportingMaterial_NSP, Section 1.1.1, p.10) with a disturbance footprint of 1055.17 ha illustrated in Figure 1.3 (R.A11701.005.01_EPBC-ReferralSupportingMaterial_NSP, Section 1.1.1, p.9).</p><p><strong>Mining Operations</strong></p><p>The NSP will consist of silica mining via a loader or potentially dry bucket wheel system which will feed silica sand to trommels or vibrating screens. Sand will then be pumped as a slurry to a processing plant with capacity up to 6 Mtpa. Processing will be via an innovative and modular CDE Global Australia Pty Ltd (CDE)-Diatreme designed plant that minimises iron contamination, delivering a low iron content silica product. During mining operations, a dozer will also be used to undertake progressive vegetation and topsoil stripping along with rehabilitation, subject to a progressive rehabilitation and closure plan (PRCP).</p><p><br>Mining will typically occur across 12-month mining panels, aligned northwest to southeast, although the size of panels will be subject to further analysis during the next stage of feasibility studies. The intention is for mining panels to progressively exploit the dune, migrating towards coastal areas. All mining will be conducted above the water table.</p><p><br>Bulk stockpiles of processed material will be located within MLA100308 from where product will be conveyed to the Port of Cape Flattery via conveyor. From here it will be loaded on to oceangoing vessels (OGVs) for export. The design of stockpiles and associated dewatering within MLA100308 is yet to be engineered but is expected to include proprietary CDE-EVO wash systems and water returns to the processing plant via return water line. An area for stockpiling will also be located within MLA100313, on Ports North freehold land (9BS223, 10BS224), limited to an emergency source of 50kt of silica product in the event of conveyor failure.</p><p><br>The preferred route for conveyance will be through the CFSM ML2965 either by commercial agreement with CFSM or by way of a s316 easement/transportation lease under the Queensland <i>Mineral Resources Act 1989</i>. In the event of an issue associated with achieving this lease, MLA100308 includes a beachfront access strip through to Ports North land.</p><p><strong>Maritime Infrastructure</strong></p><p>Within the port, Diatreme will require access to a barge ramp to support initial construction as well as relevant maritime infrastructure for export of the silica product. At present, the following options (in order of preference) are being considered by Diatreme:</p><ol><li>1.Use of an existing barge ramp operated by CFSM in port limits and the use of the existing Port ofCape Flattery wharf (and conveyor structure) which is owned by Ports North but operated by CFSMas the lessee. This option involves no new maritime infrastructure being developed for the NSP,although some minor modification to existing structures may be required. This option is subject to asuitable commercial and operational agreement being reached with CFSM and Ports North.</li><li>Construction of a new rock barge facility within the limits of the port to support initial construction and then use of the same structure for transhipment of silica product to a moored ocean-going vessel (OGV). The mooring arrangement for the OGV could either be at the existing berth of the Port of Cape Flattery Wharf (if there is capacity and the activity is permitted by the Port and CFSM)or else the construction of mooring dolphins seaward of the existing wharf.</li><li>Construction of a new barge facility as per option 2 and constructing a permanent extension to the existing wharf (e.g. via lengthening and/or widening of the wharf structure). This option allows for NSP operations to occur completely in parallel with existing CFSM operations.</li></ol><p>There are ongoing commercial discussions with CFSM and the Far North Queensland Ports Corporation Limited (‘Ports North’) regarding the ability to share existing infrastructure. These discussions are also being supported by investigations by the Queensland Department of Resources (DoR). Pending these discussions, a final option will be selected. However, this is anticipated to take several months and therefore all three options will be subject to environmental assessment.</p><p><strong>Site Access</strong></p><p>Access to the NSP site is proposed through one of two alternate access routes:</p><ol><li>Starcke-Northern Silica Access 1 – this is a ~10 km long access route connecting from the Starcke Highway (Mount Webb Wakooka Road) to the western end of MLA100308. This is the preferred access route for the site.</li><li>Starcke-Northern Silica Access 2 – this is a ~18 km long access route that follows a gazetted road from the Starcke Highway through to the coast and then travels north to connect to the southern end of MLA100308.</li></ol><p>Access 1 is a more direct and shorter route but is subject to landowner negotiations as it crosses additional freehold lots outside the Aboriginal freehold land of the Hopevale Congress RNTBC.&nbsp;</p><p>Site access may also occur by sea through the Port of Cape Flattery but this will be dependent on the maritime infrastructure developed. It is noted that the distance between Cooktown and the port may make any sea-based commuting for workers unfeasible.</p><p><strong>Operational Infrastructure and Water Use</strong></p><p>Operational infrastructure for the project will include upgrades to the Starcke Highway, development of an all-weather access to the site (via one of the above access routes), construction of an 80-100 person camp, site offices, workshop, laboratory, crib room, amenities building, potable water plan, fuel storage facilities, diesel/solar hybrid power, water supply, settling ponds and sewage treatment facilities. The utilisation of the airstrip at Cape Flattery is subject to ongoing communications with CFSM. Personnel will be transported from Hope Vale and Cooktown by bus, air or water taxi.</p><p>The source of raw water supply to site will be provided by a bore(s) located within MLA100308. Current estimates indicate an annual water supply will be required of up to 3,500ML.</p><p>Raw water will be pumped from the bore to the Potable Water Treatment Plant (PWTP) via a pipeline run along the site access road. Pipelines would generally consist of 100 mm diameter polyethylene mains and be run along the ground to allow inspection and repair as required. Fire breaks to these mains would be established to prevent damage in the event of a bushfire. Water treatment will be via an Ultrafiltration (UF) Membrane water treatment plant. Disinfection would be achieved with UV and chlorination. Potable water will be treated to ensure water quality for human consumption complies with the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.<br>After water treatment it is proposed that the potable water is stored in a proprietary steel or poly tank reservoir to provide 3 days storage in the event of source failure. The reservoir would be located approximately 200 m west of the office location close to the MLA boundary halfway up the ridge and placed on an elevated platform to achieve an elevation of approximately RL 60 m to provide sufficient head pressure. The final location will be determined during detailed design.</p><p>Runoff water from the mine infrastructure area will be stored within stormwater detention ponds and be transferred to the mine process treatment plant for the water to be re-used on site. Runoff from the network of haul roads will be captured in table drains discharges to vegetated areas via turn outs at regular intervals.</p><p>Additional to drinking water supply, up to 3ML/yr will be required to feed mining, infrastructure and port operations. This will be based on a bore(s) within MLA100308. It is expected 80-85% of water abstracted for operations will be returned to dunes and will be confirmed through comprehensive groundwater studies.</p><p>The NSP is within the Jeannie Sub-Catchment area under the Cape York Water Plan. Under the Cape York Water Management Protocol, there is no unallocated water under the Cape York Peninsula Heritage Area (CYPHA) reserve or the general reserve. Additionally, the volume of water required for the NSP is expected to exceed the availability of water that could otherwise be obtained through trading with existing allocation holders. Therefore, Diatreme is currently seeking an allocation of water from the strategic reserve (which currently holds 25,000 ML/yr). The NSP is expected to constitute a project of regional significance for the purposes of the W<i>ater Plan (Cape York) 2019</i> and Diatreme can make an application for a Water Licence under the <i>Water Act 2000 </i>for such an allocation.</p><p>Diatreme is currently in discussions with the Queensland Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water (RDMW) regarding this allocation. Applications and negotiations will continue in parallel with environmental studies to obtain the relevant allocation.</p><p>The NSP will have the following direct and indirect impacting processes within the terrestrial and marine environment:</p><p>Landside/terrestrial&nbsp;</p><ul><li>Vegetation clearing</li><li>Landform changes</li><li>Drainage changes</li><li>Groundwater extraction</li><li>Noise and dust</li><li>Vehicle movement</li></ul><p>Marine</p><ul><li>Vessel movements (inshore)&nbsp;</li><li>Vessel movements (offshore/shipping channels)</li><li>Product loading (and potential spill/material loss)&nbsp;</li><li>Construction noise (underwater)</li></ul><p>Further details on the direct and indirect impacts associated with NSP project elements are in R.A11701.005.01_EPBC-ReferralSupportingMaterial_NSP, Section 4, p.59).</p>
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