THE State Government has given Rex Minerals 12 more months to submit environmental and social management plans for its Hillside project on the Yorke Peninsula.
Rex’s management will use the time to up its community engagement, with a number of local residents and holidaymakers concerned about the mine’s effect on local industries, as previously reported by The Advertiser.
“Rex is conscious of the need to not rush the community liaison process and the extra time is greatly appreciated,” a spokesman said.
Rex must now submit its program for environmental protection and rehabilitation, as well as a social management plan, by September 16, 2016.
Earlier this year Rex announced it had scaled down its original plans for the project, focusing on copper and gold rather than iron ore.
Originally touted to be worth $800 million, the now $480 million project is expected to create 550 jobs during the 20-month construction phase and around 500 ongoing jobs throughout production.
Rex was granted a mining lease for the original project in mid-2014. Since that time its share price has dropped from 36.1c in July 2014 to its current price of around 9c.
Earlier this month, Rex appointed Mitch Hooke as its non-executive director.
Mr Hooke has a background in public advocacy and strategy. He was chief executive of the Minerals Council of Australia from 2002 to 2013.
29 Aug 2015 The Advertiser LUKE GRIFFITHS
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