Rex Minerals has won state government approval for its proposed $850 million open cut Hillside Copper Project near Ardrossan on South Australia’s Yorke Peninsula.
The company claims the Hillside project is one of Australia’s largest known open-pit copper reserves.
Speaking to the ABC, Rex’s managing director Mark Parry said there will be stringent environmental controls on mining operations and that planning work remains to be completed.
“We then have 12 months to work through … a program for environment protection and rehabilitation. That again will be assessed by the Government. That again will be open for the community to have a look at and that in effect is to ensure we have the management systems and processes which will safeguard stakeholders and the environment,” he said.
South Australian Chamber of Mines and Energy (SACOME) Chief Executive, Jason Kuchel, congratulated the company saying, “This is fantastic news for South Australia. The framework is now in place for the Hillside project to move forward towards attracting investment to allow it to construct and develop the mine, which will provide jobs, investment and a significant boost to the Yorke Peninsula and the State’s economy.”
“The attainment of these State approvals reflects a thorough and extensive assessment by the State
Government following long consultation periods with the surrounding community on the Yorke Peninsula.”
Once Rex accepts the offer, the company will have 12 months to prepare a detailed plan that meets all of the Government’s stringent requirements.
“The State Government’s thorough and rigorous handling of the Hillside approvals process reflects well on
other potential developments in our State, sending a signal to investors that the South Australian
government is supportive of mining within a consultative and well regulated framework” said Mr Kuchel.
“We know how hard Rex Minerals and the State Government have worked to get the project to this stage.
We believe the community should be re-assured by the lengthy and robust process that the State and
Federal Government puts companies through to meet stringent conditions as part of the approvals
process.”
The project is expected to create more than 700 hundred jobs in the region, and have a mine life of 15 years.
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