RECENT analysis undertaken by the Geraldton Iron Ore Alliance (GIOA) has revealed that less than 1% of the Mid West’s Banded Iron Formation (BIF) ranges will be mined under current proposals of the eight Alliance companies.
The GIOA has undertaken the assessment in response to the State Government’s Strategic Review into the BIFs, which called for 15 to 30% of the ranges to be protected as nature reserves.
“With iron ore mining impacting such a small percentage of the BIFs, the industry’s development cannot be considered in conflict with balanced conservation of these ranges,” GIOA Deputy Chairman Rob Jeffries said.
“By quantifying the area of the BIFs likely to be impacted by iron ore mining, we are demonstrating that environmental protection of the ranges does not need to negate the economic and social benefits to be gained for the Mid West through the iron ore industry.”
According to the Department of Industry and Resources (DOIR), mining contributes 45% of the Mid West region’s Gross Regional Profit, with agriculture being the next largest contributor at 10.5%.
With the effects of drought being felt by farmers in the Mid West, the future of the region is becoming increasingly reliant on mining.
Clive Brown
Independent Chairman of the Geraldton Iron Ore Alliance
clibro@iinet.net.au