Public Environmental Report for Merlin Diamond Project - Text, Figures, Plates

Abstract

Ashton Mining Limited (Ashton) proposes to develop a diamond project (in joint venture with Aberfoyle Limited) the Glyde River region of the Northern Territory (located at approximately Latitude 16degrees50'S and Longitude 136degrees25'E). The prospect will be known as the Merlin Project. The mining area is contained within Crown Lease CL(P) 1289 Spring Creek NT Portion. The tenements presently covered by this project include; ERL 141 (736 ha), ERL 142 (888 ha), and SEL 8630 (110 'blocks' approx. 353.1 sq. km). Ashton has significant experience in the exploration, mining and diamond marketing areas in Australia and overseas. A Notice of Intent (NOI) has been submitted to the relevant NT Government authorities to establish the level of environmental assessment required for the project under the Environmental Assessment Act 1982. The NOI was compiled in accordance with guidelines provided by the Department of Mines and Energy (DME) and the Department of Lands, Planning and Environment (DLPE). In response, the NT government have directed Ashton to submit a Public Environmental Report (PER) to assess the impacts associated with the proposed development and provide environmental safeguards to mitigate impacts. Infrastructure required to service the project includes the following; administration building, airstrip, borefield, camp site, pit and plant access roads, pit dewatering system, process plant, tailings dam, workshops, store, powerstation, process water management system, stormwater management system, several open pits, waste rock dumps, and a site access road (approximately 63 km upgraded gravel road) linking Merlin with the Carpentaria Highway. This PER is provided to facilitate environmental approval for the proposed development by the NT government in accordance with the NT Environmental Assessment 1982. Dames & Moore was contracted by Ashton to jointly prepare the PER in order to address the requirements as outlined in the guidelines prepared by the DME/DLPE. These guidelines were compiled in accordance with Clause 6 of the NT Environmental Assessment Act Administrative Procedures.