Protestors relieved at Grange Resources’ withdrawal of Southdown Magnetite project but say it isn’t the end

The man who spearheaded a campaign to stop a 12km iron ore mine in Albany says although he is pleased the proponent has pulled the pin on the project, he doesn’t “believe this is the end”. Grange Resources announced it would withdraw its Southdown Magnetite project from Environmental Protection Authority approval on April 14, with the application officially removed from the system on April 30. A related EPA application made by Southern Ports to facilitate the export of the extracted magnetite via a new berth and infrastructure associated with transshipping was also withdrawn. The decision came after a feasibility study revealed the mine would cost $2.34 billion to build. After announcing the withdrawal of its application on April 14, Grange officially withdrew it on April 30 — the same day as protester Merlyn Moon was holding a community information session on the matter at the Stirling Club. Mr Moon said the timing was “amusing”. “It’s uncanny timing for sure, the withdrawal at that time,” he said. “I quite enjoyed it. “I’d love to say it was us, but I can’t say for sure. “We’re obviously on their radar but the whole thing I wanted to achieve was to let the community know about it. “I want to let them know what’s happening down here and what it means for the long-term ramifications of our community, our environment, historic identity that means so much to a lot of people down here.” Grange had been investigating the project, which would involve constructing a 460m deep magnetite mine 10km south-west of Wellstead, since 2004. Grange chief executive Weidong Wang said he remained optimistic about the project’s viability in using the region’s “world-class magnetite deposit”. “The board remains positive about the future development of Southdown and is pursuing opportunities with investors who intend to act as (joint venture) partners for jointly developing Southdown,” he said. “I look forward to the delivery of the Southdown product to meet the emerging demand for DR quality iron ore, supporting the production of low-carbon-emission steel.” Mr Moon said more than 60 people attended the information session, including skipper Tony Harrison, a vocal opponent of the transshipping export method — which involved smaller boats loading the iron ore on to cape-size vessels anchored at the entrance to King George Sound. “It’s the most ridiculous place in the world to load up the transshipping vessels because one human error or change in swell and the Attaturk Passage is ruined,” Mr Harrison said. “They were ignoring all the environmental concerns from the whale-watching, tourism, hospitality, fishing industries and all of these incomes and protections we have in place now where everything works. “It’s great that transshipping is being canned but what’s happening instead? That’s the million-dollar question.” Mr Moon said he would continue to fight the mining project when it was “inevitably” put forward again once partners were secured. “We were planning on starting a petition before we heard about the withdrawal,” he said. “They kind of kneecapped us pretty hard in terms of what we were trying to achieve, but you can’t petition something that isn’t there. “I don’t necessarily feel a great amount of trust towards them, so I don’t believe this is the end. “We’ll be there when it inevitably comes back.”