Sandy Ridge’s draft Environmental Scoping Document released for public review

  • Public comments invited on Tellus’ Draft Environmental Scoping Document (ESD)
  • Draft ESD available for a 2 weeks public review from 31st March to 14th April 2016
  • Represents major milestone for Tellus flagship Sandy Ridge project

Tellus Holdings Ltd is proposing to develop the Sandy Ridge Facility (the Proposal) within the Goldfields region of Western Australia. The Proposal is to develop a kaolin open cut mine and use the mine voids for the secure storage and isolation of hazardous, intractable and low level radioactive waste using world best practice in storage and isolation. This will be supported by a Public Environmental Review (PER) and a site specific safety case.

A draft Environmental Scoping Document has been prepared in accordance with Western Australian Government policies and procedures and is released for public review. The draft Environmental Scoping Document describes the proposal, identifies the preliminary key (most important) environmental factors or issues, outlines the work to be undertaken to predict the environmental impacts, and identifies the relevant policy context.

The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) invites people to make a submission on the draft Environmental Scoping Document (ESD). EPA Assessment No 2057 / EPBC Referral 2015/7478.

The environmental impact assessment process is designed to be transparent and accountable, and includes specific points for public involvement, including opportunities for public review of environmental documentation.

In February, Tellus undertook community consultation in Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie. The main focus of the consultation was to inform the public about Tellus’ proposal to develop the Sandy Ridge Kaolin mine and complementary waste storage project and discuss key environmental and social benefits or concerns associated with the proposed Project.

Fig. 1: Tellus’ Draft Environmental Scoping Document (ESD)

The Sandy Ridge draft Environmental Scoping Document is now available for public review.

Copies can be downloaded from the EPA Consultation Hub at https://consultation.epa.wa.gov.au/ .

In addition, hard copies of the draft ESD will be available for examination at:

  • State Library of Western Australia, Perth Cultural Centre, 25 Francis Street, Perth WA 6000
  • City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder Public Library, Roberts Street, Kalgoorlie WA 6430
  • Coolgardie Recreation Centre Library, 69 Sylvester Street, Coolgardie WA 6429
  • Southern Cross Public Library, CRC, Canopus Street, Southern Cross WA 6426
  • Kambalda Public Library, Barnes Drive, Kambalda West WA 6442

Public submissions close on 14th April 2016. The EPA prefers submissions made through the EPA consultation hub at https://consultation.epa.wa.gov.au

Alternatively submissions can be posted to:

Chairman, Environmental Protection Authority,
Locked Bag 10,
EAST PERTH WA 6892,
Referring Sandy Ridge Project and CMS/Assessment # 2057

If you have any questions on how to make a submission, please ring the Office of the Environmental Protection Authority on (08) 6145 0800

About Tellus Holdings:
Tellus Holdings Ltd is an infrastructure project development company with a proposed dual revenue infrastructure business model. This involves mining the commodities salt and kaolin and backfilling the voids left from mining with equipment, archives or long term storage of waste. Tellus plans to store like-with-like materials, so as to create opportunities for the future long- term, storage, treatment and recovery of valuable materials or the permanent isolation of waste. Tellus’ business model mirrors world’s best practice solutions operating in the UK, Europe, USA and Canada. Tellus is developing the Chandler project in the Northern Territory (NT) and the Sandy Ridge project in Western Australia. Tellus’ flagship ‘Chandler Project’ has been awarded Major Project Status by the Northern Territory Government.

For further information:
Visit: www.tellusholdings.com.au or contact:

Duncan van der Merwe
Managing Director
Tel: +61 (0)2 8257 3395

Corporate and Chandler Project:
Jane Munday
Michels Warren Munday (Media)
Mob: +61 (0)427 880 083

Sandy Ridge Project:
Cameron Morse
FTI Consulting (Media)
Tel: +61 (0)8 9485 8888

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