Plans for major lime sands deposit at Dongara welcomed

22/1/95

Resources Development Minister Colin Barnett has welcomed plans for a major high quality lime sands deposit at Dongara, in Western Australia's Mid-West region.

Westlime (WA) Limited, a subsidiary of Westralian Sands Ltd, has commissioned a detailed feasibility study into proposals for a $25 million plant to produce more than 150,000 tonnes of quicklime a year from 1996.

Mr Barnett said that if the feasibility study resulted in a go-ahead for the project, it stood to become the State's second major quicklime producer.

The project would involve a peak construction workforce of about 100 people - 40 people would be involved with production and transport, with a further 100 jobs generated in service and supply industries in Western Australia.

"This project would be of benefit to the State by providing a significant source of quicklime to meet local industry requirements, particularly in the alumina, gold, steel, titanium mineral and construction industries," Mr Barnett said.

"Such a project would provide benefits for regional development by helping to diversify the industrial base in the Mid-West and providing local employment opportunities."

Media contact: Carolyn Vicars 222 9699