The Hodgman Liberal Government’s number one priority is jobs and I’m pleased to announce the next step for a mine in the North West which will create hundreds of local jobs.
On advice from the director of mines, I have issued a mining lease to Forward Mining for their proposed magnetite iron ore mine at Rogetta.
As with all mining projects, the mining lease is just one part of the approval process and all proposals must comply with the relevant legislation and regulations before mining can commence.
It’s hoped Forward Mining can start construction next year with operations commencing in early 2017. Up to 200 direct jobs are expected to be created during construction and 100 through the life of the project and we know that, with the mining multiplier effect, this could lead to even more indirect jobs in the local economy.
The mine is expected to produce one million tonnes per annum over the life of the mine with the ore being trucked to the Burnie Port for export.
To give some context to how significant this project is, it would increase Tasmania's net commodity export volume of iron ore from around 2.8 million tonne to 3.8 million tonne.
This is a vote of confidence in Tasmania's mining industry and shows that mining companies continue to want to invest in our state.
Tasmania’s mining and minerals processing sector is a key driver of the Hodgman Liberal Government’s engine of growth for Tasmania and we are unflinching in our support for industry.