The Federal Government has announced that the proposed expansion of BHP Billiton’s Olympic Dam mine in South Australia has received environmental approval.

 

Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke said that the expansion was granted environmental approval on the grounds of a number of strict conditions during operation and ‘well beyond’ the life of the mine.

 

BHP Billiton will be required to adhere to over 100 conditions, including establishing an offset area of about 140,000 hectares, biodiversity conservation and environment protection management programs and a comprehensive compliance strategy.

 

The proposal was subjected to independent expert reviews including by Geoscience Australia, the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency, and the Supervising Scientist.

 

"My decision is based on a thorough and rigorous assessment of the proposed Olympic Dam mine expansion including independent expert reviews and consideration of public comments received on the project's environmental impact statement," Mr Burke said.

 

"BHP Billiton must provide a huge offset area of about 140,000 hectares—eight times the projected clearing associated with the project.

 

"These reviews made recommendations to ensure that the proposal meets world best-practice environmental standards for uranium mining and ensure management of native species and groundwater resources.

 

The proposed expansion project will see BHP Billiton expand its copper and uranium mining and processing operations in northern South Australia.

 

Under the expansion, BHP Billiton proposes a new open pit mine to lift ore production and new and expanded infrastructure including a waste rock storage facility and an expanded tailings storage facility which would operate simultaneously with the existing underground mine.

 

BHP Billiton projects that the proposed expansion would create more than 13,000 jobs and contribute over $45 billion to the economy in South Australia and nationally over the next 30 years.

 

Mr Burke said the Australian, South Australian and Northern Territory governments had worked together to share expertise and ensure conditions provided a high level of environmental protection.

 

For more information go to www.environment.gov.au/epbc.