Richmond-Julia Creek Vanadium project - draft terms of reference for an environmental impact statement

Overview

Queensland's Coordinator-General invites you to have your say on the draft terms of reference (TOR) for an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Richmond-Julia Creek Vanadium project.  

The draft TOR sets out the matters to be studied within the EIS. You are invited to comment on whether the draft TOR adequately covers all the matters, the proponent, Richmond Vanadium Technology Pty Ltd must address when preparing the EIS.

About the project

The proponent, Richmond Vanadium Technology Pty Ltd, proposes to develop the $242 million Richmond-Julia Creek Vanadium project. The project includes an open cut vanadium mine and associated infrastructure. The mine would extract up to 4.2 million tonnes per annum of vanadium ore. The ore would be processed onsite to produce 790,000 tonnes per annum of vanadium concentrate over 25 years. The proposed project is located approximately 45 kilometres north-west of Richmond, Queensland, within the Richmond Shire local government area.

The Coordinator-General declared the project a ‘coordinated project’, under section 26(1)(a) of the State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971 (SDPWO Act) (Qld), triggering the requirement for an EIS.

On 24 January 2022, the delegate for the former Australian Minister for the Environment determined the project to be a ‘controlled action’ under section 75 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cwlth) (EPBC2021/9097), as the project has the potential to impact on matters of national environmental significance (MNES). The controlling provision is listed threatened species and communities (sections 18 and 18A). The project will be assessed under a bilateral agreement between the Australian Government and the State of Queensland. The draft TOR covers both MNES and state matters.

How to comment

Comments on the draft TOR are invited from Saturday 3 December 2022 to  5pm on Friday 13 January 2023. For information on how to  provide comments to the Coordinator-General, please refer to the fact sheet Have your say on draft terms of reference for an environmental impact statement and accompanying comment form, available online and at the public display locations shown below.

The draft TOR is available to view online from Saturday 3 December 2022 to 5pm Friday 13 January 2023 at www.statedevelopment.qld.gov.au/richmond-julia-creek

Should you require access to a computer, please visit the following venues during business hours:

• Richmond Shire Council Library – 52 Goldring Street, Richmond (hard copy available on request)
• Julia Creek Library – 56 Burke Street, Julia Creek (hard copy available on request)
• Flinders Shire Public Library – Corner of Gray and Brodie Streets, Hughenden (hard copy available on request)
• State Library of Queensland – Cultural Centre, Stanley Place, South Bank, Brisbane
• National Library of the Australia – Parkes Place, Canberra

Send your comments to the Coordinator-General using one of the following methods:

Online: haveyoursay.dsd.qld.gov.au/coordinatorgeneral/richmondjuliacreek-dtor/consultation

Email: richmondjuliacreek@coordinatorgeneral.qld.gov.au

Post: Attention: The Coordinator-General

c/ EIS Project Manager, Richmond-Julia Creek Vanadium project
Project Evaluation and Facilitation
Office of the Coordinator-General
PO Box 15517
City East Qld 4002 Australia

What happens next

The Coordinator-General will consider all comments on the draft TOR, before releasing the final TOR.

The proponent will prepare a draft EIS for the project addressing the requirements outlined in the final TOR.