More than 1300 jobs are likely to be destined for North West Queensland following the approval of an $800 million mining lease in the Mount Isa area.

 

The Queensland Government has announced that Legend International Holdings had received approval for a second mining lease in the North West Minerals Province.

 

Legend estimates that there is more than 200 million tonnes of mineral reserves in the area, and expects that mine will operate for 60 years.


Legend International Holding project manager Ed Walker said a staged development of production on its two granted mining leases would take place and a third mining lease covering the project was being applied for.


"Mine production is planned to start first with high grade ore from the Paradise North deposit for the first 5 years," Mr Walker said.

 

"The larger Paradise South deposit is then planned to be mined to provide high quality phosphatic rock for the fertiliser plant planned for Mount Isa.

 

"We're also looking at upgrading the production of fertiliser product to 1.2 million tonnes per annum.

 

“After operating in the Mount Isa region for over 3 years, Legend realises that understanding our environmental impact is essential to the Mount Isa community.

 

“Legend is committed to protecting the water quality in the Leichardt River catchment as a key priority in developing this project in a responsible and sustainable manner.

 

“We have taken the utmost effort to ensure the longterm future of this project and the longterm benefit for the residents and businesses of the North West region.”

 

Legend still has approval processes to go through for the planned fertiliser plant south of Mount Isa and must seek approval from Mount Isa City Council and complete an Environmental Impact.

 

Initiatives to encourage expansion of the minerals and resources industry in the North West include:

  • Collaborative drilling grants to help fund mineral exploration in underexplored area

  • The production of geoscientific data for the North West Minerals Province to help target exploration

  • Opening up mining exploration in the Croydon and Normanton region

  • Releasing 85,000 square kilometres of land from the state's north-west to the remote south-west for competitive tendering for petroleum exploration

  • Streamlining the application process to remove red tape and leader to more efficient development approval