Sheffield Resources Limited (Sheffield) is proposing to develop the Thunderbird Mineral Sands Project, located between Broome and Derby on the Dampier Peninsular, Western Australia. The project will involve mining of heavy mineral sands with progressive backfilling and rehabilitation over a 40+ year mine life.
A Public Environmental Review (PER) has been prepared by Sheffield in accordance with Western Australian Government guidelines and has been released for public review as of the 16th January. The PER document describes the proposal, assesses potential environmental impacts and details the proposed management measures to minimise those impacts. Sheffield has undertaken numerous environmental studies and impact assessments to support the PER and proposes to implement the project with the lowest possible impact.
The public review period will be open from 16th January – 13th February. Please ensure any submissions on the proposal are lodged with the Office of the Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) prior to the 13th.
The EPA prefers submissions on PER documents to be made electronically on its consultation hub. If you would like to make a submission but are unsure how, please refer to the EPA guidance on making a submission.
The document has been divided into individual chapters and can be viewed and downloaded via the below links.
Preface and Executive Summary [701 KB]
Table of Contents [172 KB]
1. Introduction [2.44 MB]
2. Legislative Framework [210 KB]
3. Project Description [10.16 MB]
4. Existing Environment [26.99 MB]
5. Environmental Management Framework [140 KB]
6. Community and Stakeholder Consultation [156 KB]
7. Assessment Method [219 KB]
8. Environment Impact Assessment – Key Factors – Mine Site Development Envelope [1.86 MB]
9. Environment Impact Assessment – Key Factors – Port Development Envelope [702 KB]
10. Environment Impact Assessment – Other Factors – Mine Site Development Envelope [272 KB]
11. Environment Impact Assessment – Other Factors – Port Development Envelope [957 KB]
12. Environment Impact Assessment – Integrating Factor – Rehabilitation and Closure [129 KB]
13. Environment Impact Assessment – Matters of National Environmental Significance [214 KB]
14. Environment Impact Assessment – Integrating Factor – Offsets [193 KB]
15. References
Appendix 1: Section 43A Application [811 KB]
Appendix 2: Checklists [207 KB]
Appendix 3: Sheffield Resources Environmental Policy [409 KB]
Appendix 4: Thunderbird Mine Closure Plan [9.33 MB]
Appendix 5: Mine Site Development Envelope Surface Hydrology Study [3.7 MB]
Appendix 6: Mine Site Development Envelope Soil and Landform Assessment [14.43 MB]
Appendix 7: Landform Assessment Methodology [52 KB]
Appendix 8: H3 Hydrogeological Assessment [8.44 MB]
Appendix 9: Flora and Fauna Studies [86.14 MB]
Appendix 10: Fauna Survey Peer Review [428 KB]
Appendix 11: Fauna Which Have Potential to Occur at the Mine Site Development Envelope [85 KB]
Appendix 12: Mine Site Development Envelope Air Quality Assessment [2.43 MB]
Appendix 13: Mine Site Development Envelope Noise Assessment [804 KB]
Appendix 14: Port Baseline Contamination and Acid Sulphate Soils Assessment [1.65 MB]
Appendix 15: Port DPaW Fauna Search [1.31 MB]
Appendix 16: EPBC Search Derby Port and Transhipment Route [108 KB]
Appendix 17: Derby Port Development Envelope Air Quality Assessment [1.55 MB]
Appendix 18: Derby Port Development Envelope Noise Assessment [693 KB]
Appendix 19: Mine Waste Characterisation Study [6.18 MB]
Appendix 20: Mine Residues Characterisation Study [2.25 MB]
Appendix 21: Radiation Report [864 KB]
Appendix 22: Preliminary Vegetation Environmental Management Plan [3.67 MB]
Appendix 23: Bilby Environmental Management Plan [9.76 MB]
Appendix 24: Groundwater Management Plan [402 KB]
Appendix 25: Preliminary Port Environmental Management Plan [6.05 MB]
Appendix 26: Aboriginal Heritage Management Operations Framework [305 KB]
Appendix 27: DoEE Offsets Calculations [257 KB]