Rover 1 Project

Proponent: Castile Resources Pty Ltd

Overview

Castile Resources Pty Ltd proposes to develop the Rover 1 Project approximately 70km south-west of Tennant Creek. The Rover 1 Project is an underground mine on NT Portion 3556 in the Barkly Regional Council Local Government Area. The land tenure is Aboriginal freehold.

Mined ore would be processed on site to produce copper, gold, cobalt and magnetite. The total area of surface disturbance required for the mine is estimated to be approximately 177ha. The footprint would comprise of a decline box cut, waste rock dump, processing plant, paste plant, tailings storage facility, run-of mine pad, and supporting infrastructure including onsite accommodation village.

Water for the mining operation would be supplied from dewatering the underground workings and from a groundwater bore field to be constructed nearby.

The project is forecast to require an average operational workforce of 73 personnel. The operational life of the mine is proposed to be 10 years. Rehabilitation would be undertaken progressively and be completed within 5 years after operations cease.

The project is a 'controlled action' under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. The relevant controlling provision is:

• Listed threatened species and communities (sections 18 and 18A)

Stage 1: Referral

NT EPA notices

• Notice of decision to accept a proponent initiated EIS referral for standard assessment – 26 September 2023 PDF (972.1 KB)
• Notice of decision and statement of reasons - assessment by EIS - 9 January 2024. PDF (477.0 KB)
• Notice of decision on terms of reference - 9 January 2024 PDF (61.1 KB).

Public consultation on the proponent initiated EIS referral

Statutory notice (4 October 2023)

The NT EPA published a statutory notice on 4 October 2023 inviting public comment on the proponent initiated environmental impact statement (EIS) referral for the Castile Resources Pty Ltd Rover 1 Project, including proponent drafted Terms of Reference for the EIS, and a proponent Statement of Reasons for why an EIS is required.

Interested persons were invited to make a submission by 15 November 2023. The NT EPA published the notice in accordance with regulation 52(1) of the Environment Protection Regulations 2020.

Documents

Terms of reference