WA sands mine recommended for approval

Rockingham-based Doral is set to develop its fourth mineral sands project in Western Australia after the proposed mine was recommended for approval by the state’s environmental authority.

The Yalyalup project sits 11 kilometres south-east of Busselton, close to Doral’s existing Yoongarillup mine, and covers 453 hectares of predominantly cleared agricultural land.

Doral expects the project will produce 250,000 tonnes per annum of ilmenite, leucoxene, rutile, and zircon over a four or five-year mine life.

Product will be transported to the company’s Picton dry separation plant, 60 kilometres north-east of the proposed mine, before being hauled by truck to either the Bunbury or Fremantle ports for export.

The Environmental Protection Authority today announced it had recommended approval of the mine.

Deputy chair Lee McIntosh said Doral has committed to avoid clearing areas that threaten ecological communities, a flora species, and a conservation-significant fauna habitat.

“They [Doral] were also required to prepare management plans to demonstrate how they would manage potential operational impacts such as groundwater drawdown,” Mr McIntosh said.

The EPA has recommended Doral prepare an Abba River Management Strategy in consultation with the South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council. It has also opened a two-week public appeal period, which will close February 1.