Newmont Boddington Gold Pty Ltd has received environmental scoping approval for a significant amendment to the life-of-mine plan for its flagship Boddington operation, paving the way for a five-year extension of one of Western Australia’s largest gold and copper mines.
Located about 12 kilometres northwest of Boddington and 130 kilometres southeast of Perth, the Newmont Boddington Mine has been a cornerstone of the Peel region’s mining industry and local employment base.
The newly referred proposal seeks to continue and expand existing open pit and processing operations through a suite of modifications aimed at supporting long-term production and safe tailings management.
Under the amendment, Newmont proposes an additional operational footprint to enable the construction and operation of a future tailings storage facility known as Residue Disposal Area 2 (RDA2).
The development would support ongoing ore processing needs while allowing the company to safely manage tailings capacity as the mine advances into later stages of production.
The proposal also includes several associated activities, such as the preservation and stockpiling of bauxite as required, expansion of the access road from Albany Highway, and provisions for the possible discharge of treated water into the Hotham River under approved water quality conditions.
Together, these measures are designed to optimise the site’s infrastructure for extended mine life and improved environmental performance.
If approved, the project would increase the total area of native vegetation cleared by 528 hectares, lifting it from 5,435 hectares to about 5,963 hectares.
The overall disturbance footprint across mining and support areas would rise by 1,560 hectares to a total of 8,483 hectares.
Despite the expanded area, Newmont has committed to continued implementation of biodiversity management and offset programs in accordance with Ministerial Statement 971 and supporting environmental management plans.
The company’s current operations are already governed by a suite of environmental management frameworks, including black cockatoo habitat conservation strategies, aquatic fauna assessments, and detailed flora and vegetation studies undertaken between 2023 and 2025.
The new proposal incorporates updated scientific assessments covering hydrology, air quality, dust modelling, invertebrate fauna, and noise impacts to ensure the extended activities remain consistent with environmental protection standards.
The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has assigned Assessment Number 2507 to the proposal under Section 38 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986, classifying it within the gold mining sector for the Peel region.
The proposal’s Environmental Scoping Document was formally approved on October 28, 2025, setting the parameters for the detailed environmental review to follow.
If endorsed, the amendment will extend the mine’s operational life from 2041 to 2046, offering additional production continuity and regional economic benefits while subjecting future activities to ongoing environmental oversight.
The project remains at the environmental scoping stage, and Newmont will prepare further documentation addressing potential impacts and proposed mitigation measures in line with the EPA’s State policy framework.
