Cockatoo Island Mining Infrastructure Pty Ltd Succeeds in its Miscellaneous License Application
On 13 June 2022, the Warden’s Court delivered its final decision in respect of Cockatoo Island Mining Infrastructure Pty Ltd., a CIM subsidiary’s application for a miscellaneous licence for the purpose of accessing the roads and the airstrip on Cockatoo Island in the Buccaneer Archipelago. The application was objected by the neighbouring tenement holder Pearl Gull Iron Limited (ASX: PLG). The decision should be read in conjunction with two other decisions released on 1 March 2022 accessible at https://www.dmp.wa.gov.au/Documents/Wardens-Court/2022WAMW5.pdf and 9 May 2022 accessible at https://www.dmp.wa.gov.au/Documents/Wardens-Court/2022WAMW12.pdf respectively.
After hearing both parties’ evidence, the Warden determined that:
CIM now has unfettered access to both the roads and the airstrip on the Island which will enable it to finally recommence mining operations imminently at the historic iron ore mine. As to the onerous conditions sought by PGL in respect of any grant of miscellaneous licence, they were rejected too.
Managing Director of CIM, Mr Fanpeng Meng said: “the decision is fair and as expected. CIM is very pleased with the outcome and it paves the way for shipments of iron ore from the Island to resume in 2023 … We believe that it is in everyone’s interest in a such remote mining community to be cooperative and operate in harmony. We look forward to the successful development of our mining operations, and wish PLG all the best with its endeavors to develop its operations.”
For further information, please contact: hello@cockatooislandmining.com.au
20 June 2022
After hearing both parties’ evidence, the Warden determined that:
- The Objector had “no capacity… to interfere in the use of the airstrip by any party which might seek to use it” despite historically charging third parties, including CIM, for its use as a source of revenue.
- The assertion by PLG that the grant of a miscellaneous licence over the roads and airstrip would cause “injurious affection” to their mining lease – the central tenet of its objection to CIM’s application - was rejected entirely. The Warden observed: “I am of the view that the Applicant’s proposed use of the roads in question, over the co-located ore bodies whilst they are not being exploited, cannot be said to cause injurious affection to the mining lease of the Objector now.”
CIM now has unfettered access to both the roads and the airstrip on the Island which will enable it to finally recommence mining operations imminently at the historic iron ore mine. As to the onerous conditions sought by PGL in respect of any grant of miscellaneous licence, they were rejected too.
Managing Director of CIM, Mr Fanpeng Meng said: “the decision is fair and as expected. CIM is very pleased with the outcome and it paves the way for shipments of iron ore from the Island to resume in 2023 … We believe that it is in everyone’s interest in a such remote mining community to be cooperative and operate in harmony. We look forward to the successful development of our mining operations, and wish PLG all the best with its endeavors to develop its operations.”
For further information, please contact: hello@cockatooislandmining.com.au
20 June 2022