Mount Gibson given approval for Midwest iron ore plans

<p>Mount Gibson Iron has cleared environmental hurdles after Western Australian environment minister David Templeman rejected Environmental Protection Authority advice about the possible effects on native vegetation.</p> <p>The Midwest region miner wants to mine and process both hematite and magnetite from the Mt Gibson Range, about 350 km north east of Perth.</p> <p>Environmental concerns were later raised, prompting an EPA recommendation in November 2006 that the northern end of Mt Gibson’s Extension Hill project be declared off-limits because of the potential damage to two plant species.</p> <p>But Mt Gibson said this morning (Friday, August 3) that it had been given clearance to proceed with its project, including plans to haul its iron ore 80 km by road to Perenjori, where it will be carried by rail to the port of Geraldton.</p> <p>Mt Gibson is also planning a slurry pipeline for the magnetite and infrastructure at Geraldton to load the product on to ships.</p> <p>The company hopes to have formal approval from the State and Federal governments in the next seven weeks.</p> <br />