Region: Western Australia (Goldfields)

Resource: Nickel

Windarra

The Windarra Nickel Project in the Eastern Goldfields of WA originally operated from 1971 to 1993.  Poseidon Nickel Limited acquired the Windarra tenements in 2006; since then it has been exploring the Windarra area, and progressively dewatering and refurbishing the underground mine at Mount Windarra with the intent of recommencing operations.  MBS has helped Poseidon with:

  • Flora, fauna and stygofauna surveys.
  • Soil, waste rock and tailings assessments.
  • Approvals, including State Agreement Development Proposals, Mining Proposals, Mine Closure Plan, Works Approvals and Clearing Permits, for a number of development options, including a new underground nickel mine, nickel concentrator plant, gold tailings re-processing, and in-pit tailings disposal.
  • Ecological risk assessment for in-pit tailings disposal.
  • Mine water discharge monitoring and impact assessment.
  • Annual reporting to DER and DMP.
  • Closure liability estimates for bond negotiations under State Agreement.
  • Environmental and regulatory aspects of feasibility studies.

Lake Johnston Operations

The Lake Johnston Operations in the Southern Goldfields-Esperance region of WA operated from 2000 to 2013.  The operations comprise two underground nickel mines (one closed) and a nickel concentrator plant.  Poseidon acquired the project in 2014 with the intent of recommencing nickel mining and processing.  MBS has helped with:

  • Mine water discharge monitoring and impact assessment.
  • Annual reporting to DER and DMP.
  • Environmental and regulatory aspects of feasibility studies.
  • Safety approvals for recommencement through a Project Management Plan.
  • Explosives, Security Risk Substance, and Dangerous Goods storage licence applications.
  • Concentrate product Safety Data Sheets, Dangerous Goods classification, and odour assessments in support of transport permits and port approvals.
  • Negotiating DER licence amendments to reduce the cost of monitoring obligations while providing adequate detection of impacts.
  • A Mining Proposal for processing ore from Black Swan, supported by geotechnical assessment of the suitability of the tailings for disposal in the Lake Johnston TSF.
  • Works Approval amendments for a TSF embankment lift.
  • Permit transfers (including Prescribed Premises Licence, Licence to Take Water, Dangerous Goods Licence, and others).

Black Swan Nickel Project

The Black Swan Nickel Project near Kalgoorlie operated from 1996 to 2008, and presently remains on care and maintenance.  The project comprises open pit and underground mines, and a nickel concentrator plant.  Poseidon acquired the project in 2014 with the intent of using the plant to process ore from Windarra.  MBS has helped with:

  • Environmental approvals, including Mining Proposals and Clearing Permits, for processing ore from Mount Windarra and incorporating a new haul road, supported by geotechnical assessment of the suitability of the tailings for disposal in the Black Swan TSF.
  • Annual reporting to DER, DMP and DoW.
  • Permit transfers (including Prescribed Premises Licence, Licence to Take Water, Dangerous Goods Licence, and others).

Review of closure plans and rehabilitation liability estimates.