Environment

Glencore's ambition is to be a leader in environmental performance and to minimise harm to the environment. From project design to operational closure, we focus on reducing our impact on the land and waters where we operate.

As part of the process to gain environmental approval from the government, an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) has been prepared for the Aurukun Bauxite Project.

The EIS describes the ways in which the project plans to avoid or minimise its environmental impacts, and how environmental impacts will be managed and monitored if the project receives approval.

If you have a question, you can contact our project team via our feedback portal.

Since our first visit to Aurukun in 2013, regular and comprehensive consultation has been part of both our broader stakeholder engagement program and our preparation of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

The EIS consultation program has included:

• issue scoping consultation in 2019 with stakeholders (including Traditional Owners, Aurukun community members, regional stakeholders and government agencies) to provide information on the project and approval process (PDF 1MB)
• issue response consultation in 2020 which provided stakeholders with a summary of issues raised (PDF 1MB) and responded to feedback
• public exhibition of the EIS Draft Terms of Reference in July 2020.

As part of the EIS preparation, Traditional Owners were also consulted about those elements within the EIS that were of most importance to them.  An independent consultant was engaged by Traditional Owners in 2020-21 to review and provide information in relation to information contained in the draft EIS.

The Traditional Owner EIS Review identified priority areas including rehabilitation, marine ecology, surface water, cultural heritage and project commitments.  Based on the review undertaken by Traditional Owners, feedback was provided to Glencore that informed revisions in the EIS or enabled further information to be provided to Traditional Owners.

Working with Traditional Owners is an important part of building an informed consent that can support and sustain project development and operation.

The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Executive Summary (PDF 12MB) provides a high-level overview of the project, the project impact assessment process, and the key findings of the EIS.

The full EIS is available for download below together with supporting technical reports and information.

The public submission period is open from Monday 11 September to Monday 13 November 2023.  During this time, written submissions in relation to the EIS are invited from any person to the chief executive of the Department of Environment and Science.  A properly made submission under the Environmental Protection Act must:

• be written
• be signed by or on behalf of each person who is making the submission
• state the name and address of each signatory
• be made to the chief executive of the administering authority
• be received on or before the last day of the submission period
• state the grounds of the submission and the facts and circumstances relied on in support of the grounds.

After the public submission period, and as part of the EIS assessment process, we will respond to any submissions made and amend the EIS if required.

If you have a question or would like more information, you can contact our project team directly via our feedback portal.

At Glencore, planning for mine closure and rehabilitation starts well before any mining activities commence.

An important feature of planning for the Aurukun Bauxite Project is developing a Progressive Rehabilitation and Closure Plan as required under Queensland legislation.

This involves early discussions with Traditional Owners regarding their aspirations for post-mining land uses and developing plans that seek to achieve those outcomes.

We respect the unique relationship the Indigenous people have with their land and waters, and their sense of responsibility for its protection.

Through their close involvement and participation in our project, we hope to support their fulfilment of that responsibility, which has been passed through their families for thousands of years.

The project proposes to re-establish a free-draining final landform, with no significant changes to existing catchment boundaries. In line with the aspirations of traditional owners post mine land uses would comprise native vegetation for the majority of disturbed areas on the project site, and the retention of landowner/community roads.