Plans for high-quality lime sands project at Dongara welcomed

22/12/95

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

Westlime (WA) Limited, a subsidiary of Westralian Sands Ltd, has today announced plans to build a $21-million plant to produce more than 120,000 tonnes of quicklime a year from early 1997.

Mr Barnett said this plant would become the State's second major quicklime producer.

Construction of the plant would start in the first quarter of 1996 and was due to be completed and operating within 12 months.

The project would provide employment for about 100 people during the construction phase. When commissioned, the plant was expected to provide 25 permanent jobs, plus flow-on employment for services such as fuel supplies and haulage.

The Minister said there had been a steady increase in the demand for lime products in WA in recent years, mainly due to increased output of alumina, gold and mineral sands in various parts of the State.

The Dongara lime sands deposit had a resource life of about 50 years.

Traditionally, lime production had come predominantly from quarried and dredging operations in and around the Perth metropolitan area, with the major producers being Cockburn Cement and Swan Portland Cement.

Mr Barnett said the new lime kiln proposed for Dongara would further decentralise lime production in the State.

The project would further decentralise WA's expanding lime industry and also provide a timely boost for employment opportunities in the Dongara area.

Media contact: Carolyn Vicars - 222 9699