Forrest loses court battle with Yarri

Andrew Forrest has lost his battle to stop Yarri Mining from being granted mining tenements on land near the mining magnate’s Minderoo cattle station in the Pilbara.

The Supreme Court today dismissed Mr Forrest’s appeal against a previous decision by the Department of Mines and Petroleum to turn private company Yarri’s exploration leases into mining tenements.

The Fortescue Metals Group chairman has been trying to prevent Yarri from mining sand from areas around the Ashburton River since applications were lodged in 2010.

In a 2012 objection, the mining magnate's private company Forrest and Forrest Pty Ltd said Yarri's plans would adversely affect pastoral operations, sterilise and degrade the land, and cause environmental damage, including to the river.

It was also argued Yarri did not have a valid mining target or strategy.

On Thursday, the WA Court of Appeal rejected Mr Forrest's contention that the mining warden should not have recommended granting tenements to Yarri as it had failed to lodge a mining operations statement along with its application.

"The respondents' failure to comply with the requirement to lodge a mining operations statement is not a mandatory relevant consideration which the warden was required to consider and report upon," the judgment read.

Mines and Petroleum Minister Sean L'Estrange will make a final decision on granting the tenements.