Urquhart Point mineral sands project

Oresome Australia Pty Ltd (Oresome), owned by Metallica Minerals Limited, is the proponent for the Urquhart Point Mineral Sands Project. The proposed project, on mining lease application (MLA) 20669, would be located at Urquhart Point, western Cape York, approximately three kilometres south-west of Weipa in North Queensland. The area is presently owned by the Aurukun Shire Council but is part of an Aboriginal Land Act 1991 freehold package to the Wik and Wik Way people. Oresome Australia proposes to mine rutile and zircon from sand ridges (strandlines) in continuous pits of up to three metres deep. Although the MLA covers 366 ha, the area of mine disturbance would be approximately 100 ha.

On 20 August 2010, an application was made by the proponent for an environmental authority in relation to MLA 20669. The environmental impact statement (EIS) decision was made on 1 October 2010 by the department in accordance with Section 162 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994 (EP Act). The application was assessed using the EIS process under Chapter 3 of the EP Act.

On 19 May 2011, the Commonwealth Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities determined the Urquhart Point Mineral Sands Project to be a controlled action under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). The controlling provisions are sections 18 and 18A (listed threatened species and communities), sections 20 and 20A (listed migratory species) and sections 23 and 24A (Commonwealth marine areas). The EIS for the Urquhart Point Mineral Sands Project addresses matters required under Commonwealth jurisdiction. However, the Commonwealth is assessing the project under a separate, but parallel EIS process.

The process for the assessment of this project is as follows:

  1. Submission of draft TOR
  2. Public notification of draft TOR
  3. Final TOR issued—EIS in preparation
  4. Public notification of EIS
  5. Proponent responds to submissions
  6. EIS assessment report

The EIS Assessment Report was issued to Oresome Australia Pty Ltd on 3 April 2013 in accordance with Section 60 of the EP Act. The EIS process under Chapter 3 of the EP Act is now completed.

Copies of publicly available documents can be obtained by accessing the links below:

For further information about the EIS process for the Urquhart Point Mineral Sands Project please contact the EIS coordinator or email eis@des.qld.gov.au. Information on the EPBC Act process is also available.