WA environment watchdog rejects Polaris mine proposal

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Image credit: Polaris webpage

The Western Australian Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has knocked back plans for an iron ore mine in the Yilgarn region of the state, saying the proposal would lead to “irreversible” effects on the environment.

Image credit: Polaris webpage
Image credit: Polaris webpage

WA’s environment watchdog dismissed plans by Mineral Resources subsidiary Polaris Metals to develop the Helena-Aurora iron ore project, following through on its vow to take a presumption against development in the Goldfields until it was better protected.

“The proposal raises one or more key environmental factors which the EPA is of the view do not meet the EPA’s environmental objectives and the proponent did not identify any proposal modifications or mitigation measures which would ameliorate the impacts identified,” the EPA said in a statement.

According to the West Australian, Polaris’ parent company Mineral Resources, which is run by Perth contracting millionaire Chris Ellison, has appealed to the WA environment minister, Albert Jacob, to go against the EPA when he makes his final decision on the proposal after a two-week public consultation period.

Adertisement

The company argues that EPA’s decision was based solely on a consideration of environmental factors and left out the economic benefits of the mine proposal, such as the employment of 2000 people.

“The EPA has made its recommendation based only on its view of the environmental issues and it does not take account of the thousands of jobs created and ongoing economic benefits,” said Mineral Resources chairman Chris Ellison.

“The Government explicitly said in 2010 that the area is available to be considered for mining and the company has progressed its plans in accordance with government policy and with very high environmental standards.”

Wilderness Society WA director Jenita Enevoldsen welcomed EPA’s announcement, saying it protected the “jewel in the crown” of an area known as the Great Western Woodlands.

“This is not a controversial decision, this is a very simple decision based on science and also based on the fact that all of these ranges are ancient jewels,” she said.

“The Helena Aurora Range is really the jewel in the crown of all these Yilgarn ranges which are 2.6 billion years old and they have eco systems that are dependent on them. Some species that are found nowhere else on the planet will be lost if a mine like this was to go ahead.”