Current Modification Applications

The main elements proposed for the Modification include the following and are shown on Figure 1-5:

• Placement of additional buttressing material on the outer slopes of the NTSF and STSF embankments, such that the embankments and associated disturbance area include areas outside of existing MLs. No changes to the approved TSF heights, volume of tailings material stored, or stored tailings footprints are proposed. All tailings deposition would remain within the existing MLs.

• A TSF construction infrastructure area, comprising offices, workshops, lubrication and fuel storage to support the upgrades to the NTSF and STSF embankments.

• A minor realignment of Panuara Road in two locations to accommodate the STSF buttressing footprint.

• Restarting the Ridgeway Underground Mine, to recover the remaining 15 Mt of approved resource and a minor change to the approved subsidence zone footprint. This includes using the existing Ridgeway ventilation shafts (upcast and downcast) and the associated operational underground fan system.

• Relocation of a small section of the existing site access road. 

• Relocation of the existing on-site batch plant, warehouse and associated laydown facility.

• Construction of a larger tailings pilot plant and associated sand embankment (known as hydrocyclone sands).

• Installation and operation of two additional Cadia East Underground Mine upcast surface ventilation fan installations[1].

• Expansion of the existing 132 kV electrical substation.

• Train arrival and departure activities at the Cadia Dewatering Facility to occur during evening and night-time hours (in addition to approved train arrival and departure activities that occur during daytime hours). This would not result in any change to the total annual number of train movements generated by Cadia. Train loading operations will continue to only be undertaken during daytime hours.

• Approval to conduct construction works for the TSFs in the evening period (i.e. 6.00 pm – 10.00 pm).

• Upgrade of existing infrastructure at the PAX facility.

• Installation of two additional hydrofloat cells within the existing Cadia Ore Processing Facilities’ disturbance footprint.

• Realignment of a section of the Belubula River pipeline.

• Other minor infrastructure additions/changes.

As part of the Modification, we are also seeking the following amendments to the conditions of PA 06_0295:

• A minor administrative change to remove the conditions associated with the now decommissioned Blayney Dewatering Facility.

• Removal of the Striped Legless Lizard species and the Pink-tailed Legless Lizard species credits from PA 06_0295 following completion of additional surveys.

The Modification would not change the following components of the approved Cadia:

• Mining method.

• Cadia East and Ridgeway Underground Mine footprint/dimensions.

• Processing rate (i.e. the modification approved in December 2021 to increase the permitted processing capacity from 32 Mtpa to 35 Mtpa is subject to condition 6A, Schedule 2 of PA 06_0295).

• Mine life.

• Maximum approved heights of the TSF embankments.

• Continued use of existing surface facilities, infrastructure and ancillary activities and construction and use of new and previously approved facilities and infrastructure to support the operation.

[1] A third upcast surface ventilation fan installation is in operation at VR81. CHPL has assessed that the installation and operation of the VR81 surface ventilation fan arrangement is generally in accordance with the project as approved.