Proponent: Winchelsea Mining Pty Ltd
Overview
Winchelsea Mining Pty Ltd is proposing to develop and operate a new open cut manganese mine on Winchelsea Island about 600 km southeast of Darwin. The proposal is for shallow strip mining to extract ore and overburden, and the development of associated mine infrastructure.
The project is being assessed under the Environment Protection Act 2019, and as an Accredited Assessment under section 87 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. The relevant controlling provisions being:
- listed threatened species and communities (s.18 & 18A)
- listed migratory species (s.20 & 20A).
Stage 1: Referral
NT EPA notices
- Notice of Decision to accept referral for standard assessment - 6 January 2021 PDF (875.7 KB)
- Notice of Decision and Statement of Reasons – 10 March 2021 PDF (95.1 KB)
The NT EPA suspended the assessment at the request of the proponent under Environment Protection regulation 89 on 25 March 2021, and ceased preparing the draft Terms of Reference for an Environmental Impact Statement.
On 24 May 2021, the NT EPA accepted a Notice of Significant Variation of the proposal, and resumed the assessment process.
Public consultation
Statutory notice (8 January 2021)
The NT EPA published a statutory notice on 8 January 2021 to invite public comment on a referral of a proposed action submitted by Winchelsea Mining Pty Ltd to develop the Winchelsea Island Manganese Mine Project.
Interested persons were invited to make a submission by 8 February 2021. The NT EPA published the notice in accordance with regulation 52(1) of the Environment Protection Regulations 2020.
| Submissions received on the referral | Type | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority | PDF 423.2 KB |
| 2 | Department of Environment, Parks and Water Security | PDF 2.4 MB |
| 3 | Department of Health - Medical Entomology | PDF 84.8 KB |
| 4 | Department of Health - Public Health | PDF 123.0 KB |
| 5 | Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade - Resources | PDF 12.3 MB |
| 6 | Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade - Tourism | PDF 157.8 KB |
| 7 | Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistic | PDF 185.6 KB |
| 8 | Department of Territory Families, Housing and Communities - Heritage Branch | PDF 109.5 KB |
| 9 | Department of the Chief Minister and Cabinet | PDF 48.6 KB |
| 10 | NT Police, Fire and Emergency Service | PDF 168.4 KB |
Two public submissions were received in relation to the referral and have been withheld from publication in accordance with regulation 269 of the Environment Protection Regulations 2020.
Documents
| Referral | Type |
|---|---|
| Referral form | PDF 448.9 KB |
| Main Report - Winchelsea Island Manganese Mine Project | PDF 4.2 MB |
| Appendix A - Environment Risk Assessment | PDF 632.8 KB |
| Appendix B - Process Plant Concept | PDF 1.8 MB |
| Appendix C - Pioneer Access Ramp Concept Technical Memo | PDF 6.4 MB |
| Appendix D - Flood and Storm Water | PDF 26.8 MB |
| Appendix E - Flora and Fauna | PDF 6.6 MB |
| Appendix F - Vegetation | PDF 348.4 KB |
| Appendix G - Benthic Survey | PDF 1.6 MB |
| Appendix H - Cultural Heritage Report | PDF 9.8 MB |
| Appendix I - Stakeholder Engagement Strategy | PDF 439.4 KB |
| Appendix J- Little Paradise Conceptual Site Model | PDF 9.4 MB |
Stage 2: Assessment
Significant variation 1 – 24 May 2021
NT EPA notices
- NT EPA Direction to provide additional information about significant variation – 18 May 2021 PDF (1.8 MB)
- NT EPA Notice of decision to accept significant variation of proposed action – 24 May 2021 PDF (1.3 MB)
- NT EPA Notice of decision and statement of reasons about assessment of significant variation – 10 August 2021 PDF (77.7 KB)
- NT EPA Notice of Decision on TOR - 4 November 2021 PDF (75.6 KB)
| Significant variation 1 | Type |
|---|---|
| Significant variation - Main Report | PDF 5.3 MB |
| Appendix A – Environmental Risk Assessment | PDF 1.6 MB |
| Appendix B – Environmental Policy | PDF 1.2 MB |
| Appendix C – Flood Constraints Analysis | PDF 17.7 MB |
| Appendix D – Terrestrial Ecology Report | PDF 6.5 MB |
| Appendix E – Wet Season Vegetation Survey Report | PDF 301.0 KB |
| Appendix F – Benthic Survey Report | PDF 3.2 MB |
| Appendix G – Cultural Heritage Survey Report | PDF 9.8 MB |
| Appendix H – Stakeholder Engagement Strategy | PDF 444.3 KB |
| Additional information about significant variation | Type |
|---|---|
| Significant variation form provided in response to direction | PDF 374.4 KB |
| Additional information provided in response to direction | PDF 684.9 KB |
Public consultation on notice of significant variation 1
Statutory notice (1 June 2021)
The NT EPA published a statutory notice on 1 June 2021 to invite public comment on a notice of significant variation submitted by Winchelsea Mining Pty Ltd to develop the Winchelsea Island Manganese Mine Project.
Interested persons were invited to make a submission by 29 June 2021. The NT EPA published the notice in accordance with regulation 170 of the Environment Protection Regulations 2020.
| Submissions received on the significant variation | Type | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority | PDF 406.0 KB |
| 2 | Department of Chief Minister and Cabinet | PDF 415.6 KB |
| 3 | Department of Environment, Parks and Water Security | PDF 597.5 KB |
| 4 | Department of Health - Medical Entomology | PDF 87.3 KB |
| 5 | Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade - Resource | PDF 140.0 KB |
| 6 | Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade - Tourism | PDF 417.9 KB |
| 7 | Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics | PDF 110.5 KB |
| 8 | Department of Territory Families, Housing and Communities - Heritage | PDF 192.6 KB |
| 9 | NT Police, Fire and Emergency Services | PDF 113.4 KB |
One public submission was received in relation to the significant variation, and has been withheld from publication in accordance with regulation 269 of the Environment Protection Regulations 2020.
Public consultation on draft Terms of Reference
Statutory notice (29 September 2021)
The NT EPA published a statutory notice on 29 September 2021 to invite public comment on draft Terms of Reference for the Winchelsea Mining Pty Ltd Winchelsea Island Manganese Mine Project.
Interested persons were invited to make a submission by 19 October 2021. The NT EPA published the notice in accordance with regulation 186 of the Environment Protection Regulations 2020.
| Submissions received on draft Terms of Reference | Type | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority | PDF 408.0 KB |
| 2 | Department of Chief Minister and Cabinet | PDF 416.6 KB |
| 3 | Department of Environment, Parks and Water Security | PDF 212.5 KB |
| 4 | Department of Health - Medical Entomology | PDF 421.3 KB |
| 5 | Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade - Resources | PDF 1.4 MB |
| 6 | Department of Territory Families, Housing and Communities - Heritage Branch | PDF 427.5 KB |
| 7 | NT Police, Fire and Emergency Service | PDF 140.2 KB |
Terms of reference (2021)
| Terms of Reference for an Environmental Impact Statement | Type |
|---|---|
| Draft Terms of Reference for Preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement for the Winchelsea Island Manganese Mine Project - 29 September 2021 | PDF 1.1 MB |
| Terms of Reference for an EIS - 4 November 2021 | PDF 1.3 MB |
Significant variation 2 – 10 July 2023
NT EPA notices about significant variation
- NT EPA Notice of Decision to accept significant variation of a proposed action – 10 July 2023 PDF (1.2 MB)
- NT EPA Notice of Decision and Statement of Reasons about significant variation – 14 September 2023 PDF (540.4 KB)
Public consultation on notice of significant variation 2
Statutory notice (10 July 2023)
The NT EPA published a statutory notice on 10 July 2023 to invite public comment on a notice of significant variation submitted by Winchelsea Mining Pty Ltd to develop the Winchelsea Island Manganese Mine Project.
Interested persons were invited to make a submission by 22 August 2023. The NT EPA published the notice in accordance with regulation 170 of the Environment Protection Regulations 2020.
| Submissions received on the significant variation | Type | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority | PDF 487.6 KB |
| 2 | Department of Chief Minister and Cabinet | PDF 418.5 KB |
| 3 | Department of Environment, Parks and Water Security | PDF 1.2 MB |
| 4 | Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade - Resource | PDF 469.1 KB |
| 5 | Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics | PDF 87.0 KB |
| 6 | Department of Territory Families, Housing and Communities - Heritage | PDF 81.5 KB |
Documents
| Significant variation 2 | Type |
|---|---|
| Winchelsea Manganese Mine Project - Notice of Significant Variation referral | PDF 4.6 MB |
Terms of reference (2023)
| Terms of Reference for an Environmental Impact Statement | Type |
|---|---|
| Amended Terms of Reference for an EIS – 10 October 2023 | PDF 1.6 MB |
Draft Environment Impact Statement (EIS)
In accordance with section 281(2) of the Environmental Protection Act 2019, Appendix Y and Appendix AA have been withheld from publication.
Additionally, in sections of the following documents where there is reference to cultural heritage sites, these section have been redacted, Draft EIS Chapter 7, Draft EIS Chapter 9.12-9.14, Appendix H, and Appendix X.
Impact assessment documents
Public consultation on the draft Environment Impact Statement (EIS)
The NT EPA invites public comment on the draft EIS for the Winchelsea Island Manganese Mine Project submitted by Winchelsea Mining Pty Ltd.
Interested persons may make a submission by 9 April 2024. Please refer to the NT EPA consultation page .