Century Zinc Project Act 1997 (Qld)

Century Zinc Project Act 1997

An Act to facilitate certain aspects of an agreement about the establishment of a mine and other facilities on certain land in north-west Queensland

Preamble 1 Century Zinc Limited is developing a project involving preparing for and operating a base metal mine to recover zinc, lead and silver from a deposit at Lawn Hill, processing and concentrating the ore, transporting the concentrate slurry by pipeline to Karumba on the Gulf of Carpentaria, dewatering the ore, barging and shipping it for export and other related activities. 2 After negotiations under the right to negotiate provisions of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cwlth), the parties to the negotiations have made the agreement allowing certain acts do be done. 3 The project will better provide infrastructure and services for people and businesses in the area known as the Carpentaria-Mount Isa mineral province. 4 The project will provide employment for Queenslanders and in particular the people of the mineral province. 5 The project will improve the economy of Queensland and Australia. 6 The project will result in social and other benefits for all people of the mineral province. 7 It is important that any native title should not be extinguished by the grant of a right to mine or acquisition of land or interests in land affected by the project and it is not intended to prevent native title claims being pursued. 8 It is in the national and State interest that the project start without delay.

Part 1 Preliminary

1 Short title This Act may be cited as the Century Zinc Project Act 1997

2 Commencement (1) This Act commences on a day to be fixed by proclamation. (2) The Acts Interpretation Act 1954, section 15DA does not apply to this Act.

3 Purpose of Act The purpose of this Act is to facilitate certain aspects of the agreement made under the right to negotiate provisions of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cwlth) relating to— (a) the proposed development by Century Zinc Limited of a mine for mining zinc, lead and other minerals; and (b) the establishment of a corridor for use for miscellaneous transport infrastructure, including for the construction, operation and maintenance of a slurry pipeline from the mine site to the port of Karumba; and (c) the establishment by Century Zinc Limited of facilities at the port of Karumba for processing (including dewatering), storage and transport of mineral concentrates; and (d) the construction of associated works for the purposes mentioned in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c); and (e) development proposed to be undertaken on land held by the Bidunggu Aboriginal Land Trust.