Under the former Barnett Liberal government four uranium projects were given conditional approval. Each project was given a five year deadline to develop the mines. Three of these projects have failed to meet the government deadline and the other is actively contested. Three out of four uranium projects in WA cannot proceed.
However – their approvals still exist – we’re calling on the WA Government to use powers to withdraw the three expired uranium approvals as each project has substantial new information and changes to the original proposal.
Kintyre
Owner: Cameco
Location: East Pilbara, Karlamilyi National Park
Status: Approval expired in March 2020. Cameco are unable to develop the mine. We understand that Cameco tried to extend the environmental approval but later withdrew that application. Mining cannot occur at Kintyre without an extension.
File Archive Kintyre:
- Public Environment Review (PER) companies mine proposal here
- Our Submission into the Public Environment Review here
- EPA Report here
- Company response to Submissions here
- Our Appeal here
- Appeal Convenors Report here
- State Minister Response to Appeals here
- State Minister Conditional Approval here
- Federal Minister Conditional Approval here
* A full list of PER documents and appendix for the Kintyre project are available on the EPA website here
Wiluna
Owner: Toro Energy
Location: Northern Goldfields, Lake Way and Lake Maitland
Status: Approval expired in January 2022 they are not able to develop the mine without seeking an extension. In July 2021 the company CEO stated “No one in Australia can get finance to build a uranium mine.”
File Archive Original Wiluna Proposal:
- Public Environment Review (PER) companies mine proposal here and here
- Our Submission into the Public Environment Review here
- EPA Recommendation to approve here
- Our Appeal here
- Appeal Convenors Report here
- State Minister Conditional Approval here
- State Minister Response to Appeals here
- Federal Minister Conditional Approval here
- Federal Minister Reasons for decision here
*A full list of PER documents and appendix for the Wiluna project are available through the EPA website here.
File Archive Wiluna Extension Proposal:
- Public Environment Review (PER) companies mine proposal here
- Our Submission into the Public Environment Review here
- WA EPA Recommendation to approve here
- Our Appeal here
- Appeals Report here
- Ministers response to appeals here
- State Minister Conditional Approval here
- Federal Minister Conditional Approval here
*A full list of PER documents and appendix for the Wiluna Extension are available through the EPA website here.
Yeelirrie
Owner: Cameco
Location: East Murchison, south of the Montague Ranges
Status: Approval for Yeelirrie expired in January 2022. We understand that Cameco tried to extend the environmental approval but later withdrew that application. Mining cannot occur at Yeelirrie without an extension.
The approval of the Yeelirrie uranium mine was made despite the WA EPA advising that the project should not be approved because it would most likely cause the extinction of multiple species. CCWA and three Tjiwarl women took the issue to court, the case was dismissed at the Supreme Court and the Supreme Court of Appeals but identified a significant weakness in WAs environmental laws – that a Minister has the power to approve extinction.
File Archive Yeelirrie:
- Supreme Court Action here
- Public Environment Review (PER) companies mine proposal here
- PER Joint submission/ analysis of the mine proposal here
- The EPA recommendation to reject the mine proposal here
- Our Appeal here
- The Office of the Appeals Convenor Report here
- The Ministers response to Appeals here
- The State Minister Approval here
- The Federal Minister Approval here
- Statement of Reasons for Federal Approval here
- Freedom of Information Investigation on approvals here
*The Full list of PER documents and appendix are available through the EPA website here.
Mulga Rock: Read More Here
Owner: Deep Yellow (formerly Vimy Resources)
Location: Goldfields, Yellow Sandplain Priority Ecological Community
Status: Deep Yellow (formerly Vimy Resources) cleared land, refurbishing the airstrip and exploration mine camp in an attempt to show ‘substantial commencement’ of the mine to hold on to their environmental approval which was set to expire in December 2021. The work at the Mulga Rock site does not constitute as substantial because it is focused on refurbishment not development, the land clearing was premature and unecessary and nearly a year later remains un-developed. Deep Yellow still require a number of other approvals to develop the mine including a Sandhill Dunnart Conservation Plan. The company have not got the capital to develop the mine, nor have they made a final investment decision at the board level. They have proposed a third Definitive Feasibility study which is expected to be complete in mid 2024! They company have not even entered into formal negotiations with the Upurli Upurli Nguratja Native Title claimant group who have a registered Native Title claim over the area.
The Mulga Rock project is a long way from being feasible or from securing full and final approval. Yet the State government has found the project has substantially commenced. We maintain that the State government should review the status of the project.
File Archive Mulga Rock:
- The Australian Institute Report Nov 2020 here.
- Public Environment Review (PER) companies mine proposal here
- Our submission to the PER here
- EPA Report – recommended approval here
- Our Appeal here
- Appeals Convenors report here
- State Environment Ministers response to appeals here
- State Environment Ministers approval here
- Federal Environment Ministers approval here
* A full list of PER documents and appendix for the Mulga Rock project are available through the EPA website here