Southern Lease Mining Project

Proponent: Groote Eylandt Mining Company Pty Ltd (GEMCO)

Overview

GEMCO proposes to develop the Southern Lease Mining Project in exploration licence 2455. The project is located on NT portion 1632, approximately 10km south of Angurugu on Groote Eylandt in the East Arnhem Local Government Area, and the land tenure is Aboriginal freehold.

The Southern Lease Mining Project is adjacent, and to the south of the existing GEMCO Mine. The project will include:

• clearing about 1,620 ha
• construction of supporting infrastructure (e.g. water dams, water treatment plant, refuelling station, sewage treatment plant, heavy vehicle parking and crib hut)
• the same open-cut mining methods used at the proponent’s existing operations
• mining manganese ore and hauling to the existing GEMCO Mine for processing, and
• progressive rehabilitation of disturbed areas.

The duration of the proposal is indicated to be 7 to 8 years (comprising 2 years construction, 3 years mining, and 2 to 3 years for rehabilitation and closure).

The proposal is a 'controlled action' under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Number: 2023/09457). The proposal is being assessed at the level of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) under the bilateral agreement between the Commonwealth of Australia and the Northern Territory of Australia.  The relevant controlling provisions are:

• listed threatened species and communities (sections 18 and 18A)
• listed migratory species (sections 20 and 20A).

Stage 1: Referral

NT EPA notices

• Notice of decision to accept a proponent initiated environment impact statement referral for standard assessment - 12 May 2023 PDF (1.2 MB)
• Notice of decision and statement of reasons – assessment by EIS & terms of reference - 16 August PDF (128.2 KB)

Public consultation

Statutory notice (18 May 2023)

The NT EPA published a statutory notice on 18 May 2023 inviting public comment on a proponent initiated environmental impact statement (EIS) referral for the Southern Lease Mining Project (including proponent drafted terms of reference for the EIS, and statement of reasons for why an EIS is required) proposed by GEMCO.

Interested persons were invited to make a submission by 29 June 2023. The NT EPA published the notice in accordance with regulation 52(1) of the Environment Protection Regulations 2020.

Documents

Terms of reference