LOCAL SOCIOECONOMIC BENEFITS

Development of the Happy Valley project will allow for the continuation of input into the local economy previously provided by the current Tutunup Sth and Ludlow mines and soon to be provided by the Gwindinup mine.  If the proposal was to proceed the following specific economic and social benefits would occur:

1. Mine generated revenue into the local and regional economy in the order of $50 million.
2. jobs at the minesite itself;
3. Indirect (service) jobs in the wider community
4. Work for up to 40 contractors employed at various times at the mine site;
5. Maintenance of supply at the North Shore processing plant employing approximately 60 local people;
6. Maintain company sponsorship and contributions to special projects, organisations and community groups in the region.

ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS

Development of the Happy Valley project will include generous environmental offset provisions to compensate for the disturbance of native vegetation. The objective of these offsets is to ensure a net benefit to the environment in the longer term. Offsets currently under consideration include;

1. Rehabilitation of approximately 10ha of disused gravel pits within the Argyle State Forest
2. Place in conservation covenant approximately 85ha of land adjacent to the Gwindinup North project that contains good quality native vegetation comparable to the Happy Valley project area.
3. Additional offsets in the form of further conservation covenants and/or reclamation of currently degraded areas to native vegetation. The details of which to be determined in consultation with DEC.
4. Full rehabilitation of the mining area to native vegetation to meet agreed completion criteria.
5. Continued research into best practise rehabilitation techniques including plant propagation, weed control and fauna habitat reconstruction.
6. The Company will seek community and Government input during the EIA process to determine the most appropriate offset intiatives.

NATIONAL AND STATE BENEFITS OF THE TITANIUM MINERALS INDUSTRY

The titanium minerals industry is a major contributor to the economy of the South West of Western Australia, directly employing some 1270 people with a further 3830 indirectly employed (Chamber of Minerals and Energy, 2000). In the South West nearly 2000 businesses draw regular income from the titanium minerals industry with some 140 businesses each earning in excess of $100 000 per year from the industry. 

Some of the major business sectors to benefit are:

1. Engineering;
2. Earthmoving;
3. Transport;
4. Business suppliers and services;
5. Information technology;
6. Environmental services;
7. Tourism; accommodation and hospitality