Cape Preston

Cape Preston is a rocky headland located in the Pilbara region of Western Australia and is situated 67 kilometres (42 mi) West South West from Karratha.

Cape Preston is a standard Bureau of Meteorology reference point for coastal weather reports, it is located between Wallal and North West Cape.

The area is noted for its rich marine biodiversity and contains a large number of species of crustaceans, corals, molluscs, fish and echinoderms. A number of habitats suitable for sustaining exist around the cape including mangroves, sandy beaches, algal meadows, coral reefs, rocky reefs and soft sediment communities.[1]

In 1889, a pearl lugger was seen sinking off Cape Preston. Its name was variously reported as the Waratah or Paratch from Fremantle, belonging to James Clarke.[2] It was witnessed by the crew of the lugger Mikado[3][4] and it was later confirmed that all hands were lost.[5]

On 23 April 1989, the category four Tropical Cyclone Orson hit the cape, killing four Indonesian fisherman.[6]

During the mid-late 1960s, Cape Preston was considered as a possible location for an iron ore outport.[7][8][9] A similar plan was ultimately realised in 2012, and iron ore exports commenced in 2013.

Sino Iron Project

Resources company Austeel was granted permission to build an iron ore operation in the area in 2003 following environmental approval being given by then minister Judy Edwards. Construction of the operation was to commence in late 2004.[10]

A contract was awarded to develop the mine to a Chinese company, China Metallurgical Group Corp, in 2007. The project was estimated to cost $1.98 billion, including a magnetite mine, a seawater desalination plant, a thermal power plant and port facilities.[11]

Between 2007 and 2011, a seawater desalination plant was built to provide water for the mining project, then known as the Sino Iron Project. Its daily production capacity is 140 megalitres, or 51 gigalitres annually. Waste brine is returned to the sea via a 3 km pipeline.[12]

The project started producing magnetite concentrate in late 2012 and the first shipment was exported to China in 2013.[13]

As of 2016, the project is owned by Hong Kong-based CITIC Limited and according to the company represents "one of China's largest investments into the Australian resources sector".[13]

See also

Coastal regions of Western Australia

References

  1. ↑ "Department of the Environment and Conservation - Dampier Archipelago - Cape Preston". 2006. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012. Retrieved 2010-10-12.
  2. ↑ "Western Australia - Perth, March 13. - Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld. : 1878 - 1954) - 15 Mar 1889". Trove. Retrieved 2016-04-21.
  3. ↑ "Supposed loss of the Waratah. - Western Mail (Perth, WA : 1885 - 1954) - 9 Mar 1889". Trove. Retrieved 2016-04-21.
  4. ↑ "The gale in the North West. - Supposed loss of the Waratah. - The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954) - 7 Mar 1889". Trove. Retrieved 2016-04-21.
  5. ↑ "Western Australia - Perth, March 13. - The Queenslander (Brisbane, Qld. : 1866 - 1939) - 16 Mar 1889". Trove. Retrieved 2016-04-21.
  6. ↑ "Bureau of Meteorology - Tropical Cyclone Orson". 2011. Retrieved 2011-10-26.
  7. ↑ "Iron ore ports Three into one - The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995) - 16 May 1966". Trove. Retrieved 2016-04-21.
  8. ↑ "Cliffs deciding on iron port - The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995) - 17 Jun 1967". Trove. Retrieved 2016-04-21.
  9. ↑ "Iron ore deal - The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995) - 1 Mar 1965". Trove. Retrieved 2016-04-21.
  10. ↑ "ABC News - Austeel gets permission to mine Cape Preston iron". 2003. Retrieved 2008-10-21.
  11. ↑ "Bulk Materials Online - Chinese firm to dig Down Under". 2007. Retrieved 2008-10-21.
  12. ↑ "Sino Iron Project Desalination Plant | Case study | Ausenco". www.ausenco.com. Retrieved 2016-04-21.
  13. 1 2 "Sino Iron Project - Citic Pacific Mining". www.citicpacificmining.com. Retrieved 2016-04-21.

Coordinates: 20°51′0″S 116°12′0″E / 20.85000°S 116.20000°E / -20.85000; 116.20000

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