Question On Notice No. 831 asked in the Legislative Council on 13 March 2018 by Hon Robin Chapple
Question Directed to the: Minister for Regional Development representing the Minister for Mines and Petroleum
Parliament: 40 Session: 1
Question
I refer to an article: https://www.macrobusiness.com.au/2018/01/cliffs-shut-aussie-iron-ore-arm/ where it was reported that the United States-based iron ore miner, Cliffs, revealed it will accelerate plans to close its mining operations in Western Australia, and I ask:
(a) will the Minister explain how the area will be rehabilitated;
(b) who is responsible for rehabilitating the area;
(c) what is the timeframe for rehabilitating the area;
(d) what is the expected cost to rehabilitate the area; and
(e) who will pay the costs for rehabilitating the area?
Answered on 10 April 2018
(a) In accordance with the company’s approved mine closure plan dated 2013, of which a further revision is currently under assessment.
(b) The tenement holder, namely Cliffs Asia Pacific Iron Ore Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of Cleveland-Cliffs Inc.
(c) Rehabilitation is expected to take approximately 2 years from the mine ceasing operations and closing. Monitoring of the closure criteria as part of the Mine Closure Plan will continue until all criteria have been met.
(d) The latest report submitted by the company under the Mining Rehabilitation Fund estimates the rehabilitation liability, for the purpose of calculating the levy, as $52,863,240.
(e) The tenement holder is responsible for completing the rehabilitation.