Australia: BHP Port Hedland Project Gets Green Light

BHP Billiton’s outer harbour project in Port Hedland has secured federal environmental approval.

The go-ahead from the government includes 37 conditions, including orders for the company to develop a plan to protect dugongs, marine turtles and their habitat.

According to foxbusiness.com, the first phase of construction on the outer harbor would see the construction of a four kilometer jetty, four-berth wharf and a 32-kilometer dredged channel out into the Indian Ocean. Start up is scheduled for the first half of 2016, and it would potentially add 100 million metric tons a year to BHP’s capacity.

Environment Minister Tony Burke said in a statement BHP will have to develop a plan to monitor and manage dredging, which won’t be permitted to begin until it has been approved by an independent technical expert.

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Dredging Today Staff, May 31, 2012; Image: BHP Billiton