Gindalbie water licence decision delayed

Tue, July 19, 2011

The Department of Water has delayed its decision on whether to grant Gindalbie Metals a water licence for an iron ore project in mid-west Western Australia.

Gindalbie has lodged an application with the department to draw five gigalitres of water from an underground aquifer at Mingenew to mine magnetite ore at its Karara site.

In May, the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) announced it would not independently assess the application - that decision was open to public appeal.

Greens' members, Alison Xamon and Robin Chapple, have both lodged appeals.

Ms Xamon says the EPA must investigate.

"It's quite important that an environmental assessment take place, the CSIRO has indicated that there is very little research as to the groundwater systems out there and certainly it's concerning that such a large extraction may actually have quite a detrimental impact on a local environment," she said.

The appeals are currently being assessed by the Office of the Appeals Convener.

If the office finds the appeals are valid, they will be handed to the Environment Minister for assessment.

(sourced ABC News)