MANAGEMENT

Venture finally progresses Livingstone

VENTURE Minerals has finally started working towards development of its Livingstone iron ore project in Tasmania, submitting its paperwork to the federal government for environmental approval.

Venture finally progresses Livingstone

The Livingstone hematite project has been mired in controversy since the mining lease was granted to Venture, with activist groups condemning the proposal and lodging lawsuits to stop it.

The proposed mine is to be located in the Tarkine Wilderness Area, which does not have a national heritage listing.

However, it seems that Venture hopes to overcome opposition and reach first ore in 2024.

"The location of the proposed action is remote and there are no neighbours or sensitive uses immediately adjoining the site," Venture said in its environmental application.

That could be more easily said than done.

Last month the Bob Brown Foundation issued a statement urging federal environment minister Sussan Ley to reject the mine proposal.

"Mining in takayna or Tarkine is clearly unacceptable," activist Scott Jordon said.

"Allowing Venture Minerals to mine one of the world's best rainforests is madness."

Jordan said the operation would damage a prime hunting ground for wedge-tailed eagles, Tasmanian devils, and spotted tail quolls.

Venture said in its application the mine would have a disturbance footprint of 77.8 hectares and noted that this would impact 0.5% of spotted quoll territory.

The standalone mine would extract hematite from an ore body within the Livingstone Creek catchment and export the ore.

According to Venture, the Livingstone deposit contains a resource of 2.4 million tonnes at 58% iron.

The hematite occurs from surface and is only 2km from a sealed road providing access to rail and port facilities.

Once developed, Livingstone will be the company's second iron ore project in Tasmania alongside its Riley mine.

Riley was brought online in 2021 but has since been shuttered amid lower commodity prices.

Activists also oppose Riley being restarted.

Venture said in a presentation last month the mine was ready for restart should iron ore trade higher.

 

 

 

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