WATERANGA PROJECT - Department of Environment and Heritage ...

Wateranga Project
Queensland Industrial Minerals Ltd Initial Advice Statement
result of the actual recoveries of the minerals to date, appear to be well in excess of
QIMs expectations.
QIM is currently in negotiations with a major international engineering and
construction company in respect of all aspects of the mine’s technical and logistic
requirements.
5.3.4. Water Management and Supply
The primary water requirement for the Wateranga Project will be for the gravity
separation component of the mineral processing plant. Based on laboratory tests of
the drill samples extracted by QIM, estimates indicate that approximately 700 – 1,000
litres of water will be required to process one tonne of ore. This will equate to a total
water consumption requirement of approximately 1,575 - 2,250 mega litres per
annum, assuming 50% return from tails water. For the operation, QIM will, as much
as possible, use recycled water including the utilisation from water collection points
within the MLA.
Water will also be required for dust suppression, domestic use and re-vegetation
operations. These activities only have minor water requirements in comparison to
the processing plant requirements. Total water usage for the secondary activities is
not expected to exceed 150 mega litres per annum. Therefore the estimated annual
water requirement for Central MLA (at 2.4 mega tonnes per annum) is approximately
2400 mega litres.
The water requirements for the Wateranga Project are expected to be met and
supplied from the following sources:
Use of existing water licences within the area (to be used before the Burnett Dam
is completed).
Extraction from the Burnett River/Burnett Dam pursuant to appropriate approvals.
Recycled water from treatment and processing plants.
Stormwater captured from various stormwater diversions and stormwater dams
within the project area.
Consultation with the Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy in
Bundaberg has indicated that gaining access to water for at least the first 12 months
of operation may potentially be sought, via either an existing water allocation licence,
or upon application with Sunwater to gain a temporary water usage permit. Other
water resources will also be investigated to supply the operation with sufficient water
to meet processing needs.
Preliminary discussions held earlier between QIM and BWPL indicated that future
allocations of water for the mining project could potentially be sourced from the
Burnett River Dam upon its completion. QIM will potentially be a major client of
BWPL for the supply of water to the mining project.
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