Northern Silica project

Project overview*

EIS status	EIS active
Description	Greenfield silica sand mine and processing plant producing up to 5 million tonnes per annum of silica sand product for export, for up to 25 years.
Proponent	Northern Silica Pty Ltd, controlled by Diatreme Resources Ltd
Location/s	30 km north of Hope Vale and 200 km north of Cairns. Map
Local government/s	Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire Council and Cook Shire Council
Investment	Up to $534.8 million
Key features	open cut silica sand mine mine infrastructure area processing plant, product stockpile area and conveyors access road options for use of, and potentially construction of, jetty and marine offloading infrastructure within the Port of Cape Flattery, for export via ocean-going vessels
Construction start date	2025
Jobs	120 (construction) 90 (operational)

* Project information supplied by proponent and subject to change.

Date	Activity
Currently	Draft EIS being prepared by the proponent.
20 September 2024	Terms of reference for an EIS ( 1.0 MB) released. The terms of reference includes the requirement to address matters outlined in the Preparing an EIS - Guideline for proponents (February 2024) ( 419.5 KB)
3 June 2024 to 8 July 2024	Draft terms of reference ( 883.9 KB) for EIS public consultation. The terms of reference includes the requirement to address matters outlined in the Preparing an EIS - Guideline for proponents (February 2024) ( 419.5 KB)
12 January 2024	Gazettal ( 246 KB) of 'coordinated project' declaration.
29 November 2023	Application, including initial advice statement ( 16.6 MB) submitted.
14 June 2023	Australian Minister for the Environment and Water decided the project is a ‘controlled action’. A project that has the potential to have a significant impact on matters of national environmental significance is called a ‘controlled action’ and requires approval under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth).