Greatland Resources told to stick to speed limit, day-time hauling out of consideration for rare Night Parrot

The State’s environmental watchdog has given its blessing to a new underground gold mine in the Pilbara, but the owner will need to drive slowly, and stick to daytime trucking, so not to disturb a feathered nocturnal neighbour. WA’s Environmental Protection Authority recommended Andrew Forrest-backed Greatland Resources’ Telfer-Havieron development — in the Great Sandy Desert some 400km south-east of Port Hedland — for approval on Wednesday. The decision cleared a crucial hurdle for Greatland in its years-long plan to expand Telfer with a new deposit, but also came with a surprise condition banning it from shifting gold ores via haul trucks at night. EPA said the measures had been put in place to protect the critically endangered Night Parrot, of which there are believed to be as few as 50 living in the area, according to WWF Australia. The ban will be upheld for two years while acoustic surveys are undertaken to determine what risks noise from haul trucks could have on the parrot, and that they can be demonstrated to be low. Speed limits of 80km/h on sealed roads and 60km/h on unsealed roads will also be applied during the day, and fauna spotters will have to be stationed on-site to keep an eye out for any parrots or bilbies. EPA chair Darren Walsh said the conditions would “significantly reduce” the disturbance of Greatland’s activities on potential habitat for the parrot and the bilby population within and adjacent to the project area. Mining giant Rio Tinto is considering developing the Winu copper deposit to the north of Telfer, and has already adjusted the development envelope of the proposed project to avoid night parrot habitat, according to its EPA application. From here the EPA’s report on the Telfer-Havieron project will be opened for a three-week public comment period before its put to WA Environment Minister Matthew Swinbourn for a final decision. To make a final investment decision on the project Greatland will also need to secure environmental approvals at a Federal level. An application was submitted from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water in 2021. It could then be another 2½ years before Havieron delivers first gold, with production eventually tipped to reach 266,000 ounces a year. Record gold prices have been a boon for the Forrest-backed gold miner’s bank balance. The work will involve developing the mine and a new underground crushing and conveyor system to take ore to the surface, which would then be trucked via a new 55km haul road to be processed at an existing mill at Telfer. Investors seemingly took little notice of the update, with Greatland share closing the day 14 per cent higher to $15.23 during the ASX’s Middle East relief rally.