Carnaby’s black cockatoos. Photo: Gnangarra.
Ravensthorpe Lithium Project’s owner lost an appeal against the WA Department of Mines, Petroleum and Exploration’s refusal to grant a native vegetation clearing permit on Thursday.
The company had been keen to clear 2.3 hectares of exploration tracks and drill pads in a stand of old growth salmon gums at Cocanarup forest before proving up further lithium ore deposits.
WA Environment minister Matthew Swinbourne said he understood the appeal raised concerns that the Department had neither correctly nor consistently applied the clearing principles and the WA Environmental Offsets Policy and Guidelines.
“Specifically, the Minister understands that the appellant considers that DEMIRS has overstated environmental values and potential impacts, particularly the significance of the area and the scale of the impact to the foraging habitat of Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo, in finding that the proposed clearing is unable to be adequately offset,” the judgement says.
However the Minister said the Department’s assessment found the impacts of the proposed clearing were environmentally unacceptable and unable to be effectively offset.
“Based on the evidence regarding the significance of the vegetation within the application area, the Minister considers this finding appropriate,” the judgement says.
“The application area is suitable habitat for a number of conservation significant species, including Carnaby’s black cockatoo, numbat, malleefowl, chuditch and heath mouse.
“The Minister understands and accepts the significance of the Cocanarup area as one of the most important breeding areas in the State for Carnaby’s black cockatoo, and that all of the foraging resource around this highly significant breeding area is critical.”
Cocanarup Conservation Alliance chair Rosemary Jasper said the news was “wonderful”.
“This is a massive win for Cocanarup,” she said after the judgement.
Today the Minister has dismissed that appeal and that is the end of this matter — there is no provision for further appeal.
After the announcement Bulletin Resources share price took a dive, from 58c down to 45c on Thursday, before recovering to 47c at the close of trade.
The company issued a statement saying it was reviewing the decision and would consider its next steps.
“Bulletin will keep the market informed of any further developments,” chairman Paul Poli wrote.
Bulletin is not currently mining in Ravensthorpe Shire.
The company was granted the exploration tenement at Cocanarup in 2021 and has been keen to explore the resource, which is thought to be part of the same ore deposit that includes the Mt Cattlin mine owned by another company, Mineral Resources.
Falling prices for lithium saw Mineral Resources place the mine on care and maintenance in July this year with a loss of about 110 local jobs.
