The latest project to be awarded Major Project Status from the Federal Government is Chalice Mining’s 100 per cent-owned Gonneville PGE-Ni-Cu-Co Project.
The Federal Government’s decision is in addition to the State Government’s grant of Strategic Project Status under the Western Australian Lead Agency Framework in September 2024.
The decision recognises the national significance of the project to the development of Australia’s critical minerals sector.
The Gonneville Project is located on Chalice-owned farmland 70km northeast of Perth. The large-scale project has the potential to produce a rare mix of critical and strategic minerals required for decarbonisation and urbanisation, such as nickel, copper, cobalt, palladium and platinum.
The project is in the pre-feasibility stage, with regulatory approvals progressing in parallel.
Federal Major Project Status enables strategically significant projects to obtain extra support and coordinated approvals. Major Project Status will see the Major Project Facilitation Agency (MPFA) within the Federal Department of Industry Science and Resources provide case management support to assist Chalice in navigating federal approval processes.
The MPFA will also liaise with the Western Australian Department of Jobs Tourism, Science and Innovation (JTSI) to ensure that its case management support complements that provided by the Western Australian Government.
Chalice Mining CEO and Managing Director, Alex Dorsch, said, “Chalice would like to thank Minister Husic and the Australian Federal Government for recognising the national significance of the Gonneville Project as the first major platinum group element discovery in Australia, and an important part of Australia’s future critical minerals ambitions.”
Mr Dorsch said it is particularly pleasing to receive Federal support in addition to the Strategic Project status recently granted by Western Australian Premier, Roger Cook.
“We look forward to continuing to work with the Federal and Western Australian Governments, local communities, Traditional Owners, and Mitsubishi Corporation under our strategic MOU as we progress approvals and project studies to advance this important project towards development.”
