THUNDERBIRD OPERATIONS
Vision: Together building prosperity in the Kimberley and beyond
Welcome
The year 2023 is the year of the Water Rabbit, starting from January 22nd, 2023 (Chinese New Year) and ending on February 9th, 2024 (Chinese New Year's Eve). The sign of Rabbit is a symbol of longevity, peace, and prosperity in Chinese culture. It is predicted to be a year of hope, which is very fitting for our next 12 months as we build prosperity in the Kimberley and beyond.
The team at Kimberley Mineral Sands actively promote and live the corporate values of Integrity, Accountability, Humility, Co-creation, and Inclusivity. To ensure the ultimate success of Thunderbird during construction and as we transition to commissioning at the end of 2023 and operations in 2024 – we welcome and encourage any feedback the community would like to provide.
Please feel free to contact us via:
Consistent with living our values we will endeavour to respond as appropriate.
Site Progress
Significant progress continues with civil works and plant infrastructure nearing completion. Construction of the Thunderbird Mineral Sands Project reaching 66% complete at the end of 2022.
Process plant steel structures are being progressively installed in conjunction with process tanks, piping and electrical equipment.
Civil earthworks for the power generation facilities are now complete and with the tailings storage facility and stormwater storage pond civil earthworks approaching completion. High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) lining of the stormwater storage pond well underway.
With the recent weather events associated with ex-Tropical Cyclone Ellie experienced in the Kimberley, Thunderbird recorded approximately 500mm of rain. The process plant, access road and accommodation village remain in good condition with construction activities continuing to progress well. There were minor impacts on earthwork areas that were under construction immediately prior to the rainfall events.
Photo: Wet Concentrate Plant (WCP) Steel Works
Greater Bilby Environmental Offset Fund
KMS has been working to develop Greater Bilby Offset Plans that need to be approved as part of the State and Commonwealth Government environmental conditions for the Thunderbird Mineral Sands Project.
This work will help set up the governance and processes for approval and expenditure of the Greater Bilby Environmental Offset fund. This is a necessary step prior to KMS formally opening up an application process for projects from the community and external organisations to deliver Greater Bilby Offset land management activities and research.
KMS welcomes community input to the offset plans being developed. If you or the organisation you work for would like further information on this work and would like to provide direct input, please send an email to community@kmsands.com.au
Further updates will be provided on this work in future editions of the KMS Community Newsletter, including when KMS expects to formally open applications for Offset Funded projects.
At this stage it is expected that applications for expenditure of Greater Bilby Offset Funds will be opened up by late 2023 or early 2024.
Community and Local Business Update
The focus within the KMS Community team for the quarter has been developing the Port of Broome Community Consultation Framework that will be implemented to ensure a robust consultation process is undertaken. Out of that process, a fit for purpose management measures will be developed and implemented for road users and affected stakeholders.
We anticipate that the community consultation process will begin in the first quarter 2023, subject to KMS meeting internal milestones, including the appointment of a logistics contractor.
KMS also envisages the community consultation process will utilises social impact assessment methodologies including an array of community consultation, engagement and feedback formats.
If you or the organisation you work for would like further information on this work, please send an email to community@kmsands.com.au
KMS is working closely with Traditional Owners & Kimberley businesses to realise opportunities at Thunderbird. With Kimberley business spend July 2021 - January 2023, being $44.2M and Aboriginal business spend accounting for $8.1M within the same period.
Social Impact Assessment Update
A Social Impact Assessment (SIA) of Thunderbird’s impact on Joombarn-buru and other Native Title holders of the region is an important part of the Thunderbird Project Co-existence Agreement (TPCA). Joombarn-buru and KMS see the proposed SIA as critical to ensuring that the intended benefits of the Thunderbird Mineral Sands Project can be clearly measured over the estimated 36-year life of the mine.
The TPCA Implementation Committee proposes that the most effective way to undertake the SIA is to compile a comprehensive profile of the socio-economic position of the Aboriginal community in the region where Joombarn-buru members mainly live being Broome, Derby, the whole of the Dampier Peninsular, Looma and Jarlmadangah communities.
It is proposed that Professor John Taylor from the Australian National University be commissioned to undertake the data collection exercise. Professor Taylor has worked extensively in the Kimberley and other parts of Northern Australia and is internationally recognised for his data collecting methodology, which is termed Indigenous Data Sovereignty.
Under this approach, Aboriginal authority determines the priority issues for data collection and once data is collected and aggregated it remains under Aboriginal ownership. This approach is now formally embedded in the Closing the Gap national framework agreement and is considered best practice.
It is intended that work on the data collection exercise will begin in the first half of 2023.
West Kimberley Flooding – the biggest flooding event in living memory
Main Road Assistance
Whilst the impact of the recent flooding has not materially effected construction at the Thunderbird Mineral Sands Project, KMS and it contractors have been assisting the Shire of Derby / West Kimberley and Main Roads WA to get the Great Northern Highway open. KMS responded to a request for short term use of earth moving equipment, whilst longer term equipment was mobilised to the Kimberley.
Main Roads WA are also investigating the use of waste rock from the Project to establish temporary bypass roads whilst the works are conducted to repair the Great Northern Highway.
Shire President Geoff Haerewa said “Kimberley Mineral Sands and McCorry Brown Earthmoving responded quickly to our request for the short term use of earth moving equipment, which was much appreciated”.
Rona's Story
Ex-tropical cyclone Ellie really left an impression on Kupungarri Community at Mt Barnet Station along the Gibb River Road and we experienced the biggest flooding event in living memory.
By the end on January 2nd the equivalent rain of the whole of last January had drenched us.
The Barnet River came right up into our houses in the community, flooding power and service infrastructure, meaning that many houses were uninhabitable and without power for the last few weeks.
Our Community School, Mt Barnet Roadhouse and other family homes were used as evacuation hubs for the families.
There was complete Isolation with road access and airstrip access, both cut by the huge river.
While this is an unprecedented flood event, we who live in the bush are accustomed to road clean-ups, closure and delays after every wet season.
Rain is crucial for our wet season and gives our rivers life. It waters our plants and makes the country green.
Our Mt Barnet Roadhouse Managers and Kupungarri Community together with DFES, WA Police Force from Derby, Winun Ngari Aboriginal Corporation, Derby Aboriginal Medical Services rallied bringing helicopters and tradespeople, but especially the many phone calls checking that everyone is safe and well accommodated.
Story by Rona Charles, KMS Ranger – Cultural Heritage and Environment
Current Vacancies
Mining Manager - Closing 19 February
Superintendent Engineering - Closing 28 February
Operations Readiness Superintendent - Closing 3 March
- You can view our active recruitment at any time on our website in the Working for Us section under the Our People tab.
- Note: should a suitable candidate be found we reserve the right to close the advert earlier.
