Balranald EPBC Referral 2012-6509
Balranald Mineral Sands Development Consent SSD-5285
Balranald Mineral Sands MOD 1 - Extension of Underground Mining Trial
MOD 2 - Development Layout Figures | Planning Portal - Department of Planning and Environment (nsw.gov.au)
Environment Protection Licence 20795
Mining Lease ML1736
Mining Lease ML1855

Commonwealth Environmental Impact Statement

The Balranald Mineral Sands Project Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is the principal approval document required by the Commonwealth Government. The EIS assesses the Balranald Project against matters of national environmental significance (as defined under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999). 

Iluka Resources submitted a draft EIS to the Department of Environment in February 2016. Following a public exhibition period in which submissions were invited, Iluka revised the draft EIS and submitted the final EIS in July 2016. Approval was received 6 January 2017.

The final EIS can be accessed below. 

Approvals documentation
Commonwealth Environment Decision on Approval

Commonwealth Environmental Impact Statement
Executive Summary: Balranald Mineral Sands Project Commonwealth EIS

EIS Volume 1
Commonwealth EIS: Main Report Part A
Commonwealth EIS: Main Report Part B
Commonwealth EIS: Main Report Part C
Appendix A: Environmental Impact Statement Guidelines
Appendix B: Study Team

EIS Volume 2
Appendix C: Biodiversity Assessment

EIS Volume 3
Appendix D: Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Assessment (Part 1 of 5) (PDF, 10 MB)
Appendix D: Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Assessment (Part 2 of 5) (PDF, 9 MB)
Appendix D: Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Assessment (Part 3 of 5) (PDF, 8 MB)
Appendix D: Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Assessment (Part 4 of 5) (PDF, 9 MB)
Appendix D: Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Assessment (Part 5 of 5) (PDF, 10 MB)

EIS Volume 4
Appendix E: Non-Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Assessment (PDF, 10 MB)
Appendix F: Rehabilitation and Closure Strategy (PDF, 4 MB)
Appendix G: Water Assessment (PDF, 12 MB)
Appendix H: Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems Assessment Report (PDF, 9 MB)

EIS Volume 5
Appendix I: Groundwater Assessment (Part 1 of 3) (PDF, 11 MB)
Appendix I: Groundwater Assessment (Part 2 of 3) (PDF, 10 MB)
Appendix I: Groundwater Assessment (Part 3 of 3) (PDF, 12 MB)
Appendix J: Surface Water Management Report (PDF, 10 MB)
Appendix K: Geochemistry Assessment (PDF, 7 MB)

EIS Volume 6
Appendix L: Radiation Risk Assessment (PDF, 10 MB)
Appendix M: Social Assessment (PDF, 8 MB)
Appendix N: Economic Assessment (PDF, 2 MB)

NSW Environmental Impact Statement

Iluka Resources submitted its Balranald Mineral Sands Project Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to the New South Wales Government in May 2015. 

The EIS is the principal approval document required for the Balranald Project to progress towards development. The EIS addresses 49 government requirements and involved more than four years of rigorous technical, environmental and consultative studies. 

On 5 April 2016 the delegate for the New South Wales Minister for Planning approved the development application for the Balranald Mineral Sands Project.

Aprovals documents
Balranald Mineral Sands Project Development Consent (PDF, 3.4 MB)
 
New South Wales Environmental Impact Statement
 
Executive Summary
Executive Summary: Balranald Mineral Sands Project EIS
 
EIS Volume 1
EIS_Main Report Part A
EIS_Main Report Part B
EIS_Main Report Part C
 
EIS Volume 2
Appendix A Secretary's Environmental Impact   Assessment Requirements
Appendix B Study Team
Appendix C Agricultural Impact Statement
Appendix D Noise Assessment
Appendix E Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Assessment
 
EIS Volume 3
Appendix F Biodiversity Assessment
 
EIS Volume 4
Appendix G Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Assessment (reduced version)
 
EIS Volume 5
Appendix H Surface Water Management Report
Appendix I Balranald Mineral Sands Project Groundwater Assessment (Part 1 of 3)
Appendix I Balranald Mineral Sands Project Groundwater Assessment (Part 2 of 3)
Appendix I Balranald Mineral Sands Project Groundwater Assessment (Part 3 of 3)
Appendix J Groundwater Dependant Ecosystems Assessment Report
 
EIS Volume 6
Appendix K Water Assessment
Appendix L Soil Resource Assessment
 
EIS Volume 7
Appendix M Rehabilitation and Closure Strategy
Appendix N Transport Assessment
Appendix O Social Assessment
 
EIS Volume 8
Appendix P Economic Assessment
Appendix Q Geochemistry Assessment
Appendix R Non-Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Assessment
Appendix S Radiation Risk Assessment

Annual Environmental Managment Report 2020

Annual Environmental Management Report 2021

Annual Environmental Management Report 2022

Dust Deposition Report - February 2021
Dust Deposition Report - May 2021
Dust Deposition Report - November 2020
Dust Deposition Report - September 2020
Groundwater Report - During T3 trial (August 2020)
Groundwater Report - During T3 trial (September 2020)
Groundwater Report - Post T3 trial (February 2021)
Groundwater Report - Pre T3 trial (April 2020)
Particulate Monitoring - July 2023
Particulate Monitoring - August 2023

2019 Annual Return
2020 Annual Return
2021 Annual Return
2022 Annual Return
2023 Annual Return

Balranald Mineral Sands Project Complaints Register

Forward Program 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2025

Forward Program 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2024

Annual Rehabilitation Report 2022

Iluka Resources  is a global critical company with expertise in exploration, development, mining, processing, marketing and rehabilitation.
With over 70 years’ of industry experience, Iluka is a leading global producer of zircon and the high grade titanium dioxide feedstocks rutile and synthetic rutile. Additionally, Iluka has an emerging portfolio in rare earth elements (rare earths).
Iluka’s portfolio includes active mine sites and processing facilities in Australia.

Iluka Resources Ltd (Iluka) have approval to develop a mineral sands mine in south‐western New South Wales (NSW), known as the Balranald Mineral Sands Project (the Balranald Project). It includes construction, open cut mining, primary processing and rehabilitation of two linear mineral sand deposits, known as West Balranald and Nepean. These mineral sands deposits are located approximately 12 kilometres (km) and 66 km north‐west of the town of Balranald respectively.

The development is focused on the rutile and zircon rich West Balranald deposit, which also contains material quantities of rare earth minerals.

The high value rare earth elements contained in Iluka’s mineral products, particularly neodymium and praseodymium, are used to create powerful permanent magnets. Permanent magnets are used in clean energy and high-end technology solutions including wind turbines and electric vehicles.

Rare earths are also used in catalytic converters for vehicle emission control of hybrid and petrol-fuelled cars, in modern rechargeable batteries, and as an alloying agent to create high-strength metals in aircraft engines.

Construction is currently scheduled to commence in quarter 4, 2023 with first production expected in late 2024.

The underground mine life is estimated to be 9.5 years.

The product will be concentrated on site at Balranald and then transported by truck to a port in Victoria, where it will then be shipped to Iluka’s processing and refining assets in Western Australia. We anticipate approximately 26 trucks per day.

As part of the government approvals process, Iluka is required to conduct a range of studies addressing potential impacts. Studies must show a detailed understanding of baseline, or pre-mining conditions and explain how potential impacts will be avoided, remedied or managed.

The regulatory obligations the project is likely to be subject to include ongoing environmental monitoring, management plans, reporting and auditing.

Iluka has undertaken an air quality impact assessment (AQIA) which estimates the risk of particulate matter and greenhouse gas emissions to be low to negligible.

Iluka has undertaken a Noise Impact Assessment (NIA) to assess construction and operation noise associated with underground mining.

Noise modelling for 24/7 operations considered a number of factors, with the assessment concluding that predicted noise levels will satisfy the approved Balranald Project noise criteria.

The company applies radiation management practices that align with international best practice as defined by the International Commission on Radiological Protection, the International Atomic Energy Agency, as well as the relevant jurisdiction’s legislation.

We identify, assess and control risks associated with NORM, radon gas and human activity through all phases of our activities – exploration, project development, operations, rehabilitation and closure. Iluka’s Group Radiation Management Standard and site-specific radiation management plans ensure exposure to radiation meets the prescribed statutory limits and is as low as is reasonably achievable.

Waste will be managed in accordance with the Waste Management Plan, and disposed of appropriately.

Iluka has undertaken a Rehabilitation and Closure Assessment (RCA) to assess rehabilitation and closure objectives for underground mining.

Progressive rehabilitation is proposed with monitoring of the rehabilitated areas to demonstrate a sustainable and stable landform has been achieved.

During the construction phase, the Project is expected to employ a workforce of up to 250 people. During operations, a workforce of up to 270, including contractors.

A portion of our workforce from the local region.

Iluka will establish an on-site purpose built accommodation facility with modern amenities to provide initially 161 (but no greater than 350) single rooms/quarters to accommodate peak construction and operational workforces.

The project will also contribute to stability and certainty in the local and regional communities. Economic benefits will extend to local, state and national levels through royalty payments and export sales.

Proposed road intersection upgrades and improvements will support objectives around maintaining local and regional road networks.

Iluka acknowledges that sites of cultural significance provide Aboriginal people and all Australians with a crucial link to our shared past, present and future health and wellbeing. Sites of significance are of immense historical, cultural, scientific, educational, economic, conservation, environmental and social importance to us all and especially to Aboriginal people.

The local Traditional Owners of those sites have a deep cultural and spiritual connection to Country that comes with a responsibility to act as protectors and custodians which Iluka respects. To ensure sites are protected and managed appropriately partnerships based on trust, integrity, respect and transparency are essential.

To that end Iluka has and will continue to maintain positive relationships with the Traditional Owners via a range of internal and external protocols.

We value the relationships we have developed with stakeholders and the community and will continue to provide opportunities to have genuine input that informs our operations and decision making.

Please register your details at the top of this page, to keep up to date with the project.

Alternatively you can reach us by email at balranald.community@iluka.com, online at www.iluka.com/contact-us, or by calling our 24-hour community line on 1800 305 993.