About the approvals processes

The Gonneville Project is a critical minerals mine development containing palladium, platinum, nickel, copper and cobalt. These critical minerals are essential for technologies that will help address climate change and supply is predicted to fall short of future demand.

Before a mine can be developed, the Project must receive the approval of State and Commonwealth Governments, subject to a comprehensive environmental assessment to evaluate details of the proposed mine and infrastructure corridors; the potential environmental impacts, and how these impacts will be avoided, mitigated and managed.

The Project is in the engineering studies and approvals stages. Chalice has chosen to complete environmental approvals processes alongside ongoing engineering studies to ensure community feedback and environmental considerations can be incorporated early in the Project plans. The approvals process and further studies are expected to take approximately 3 years to complete.

Development Area

If approved, the Gonneville Project would mine and process ore that would be transported to domestic or overseas customers for further refinement into end-use metals.
The proposed Project includes:

  • Open pit and underground mining operations.
  • Ore processing.
  • Tailings storage facilities, stockpiles and waste rock landforms.
  • Supporting infrastructure e.g. offices, workshops, water treatment plant, internal haul roads.
  • Temporary facilities during construction e.g. accommodation and water supply.

These elements will be contained within a 2,240ha (~22.4km2) development area on farmland owned by Chalice. This land is already 56% cleared from previous agricultural use.

The Project also includes options for off-site infrastructure corridors for water pipelines and power lines. Multiple corridor options are being considered and investigated in consultation with Water Corporation and Western Power.

Transportation corridors are still in design phase with road and/or existing rail infrastructure options being considered.

  • The Gonneville Project will not mine in the Julimar State Forest, which is located to the north of the Project.
  • If the Project receives all required government approvals, it is estimated that construction would start in about 2027. Construction of the mine would take approximately two years to complete before operations are expected to begin in 2029.
  • Life of mine for the Project will be 25+ years.
  • Clearing of no more than 940ha of remnant native vegetation proposed within the Mine Development Envelope.
  • The Project proposes up to 15 million tonnes of material processed per year.

The Gonneville Project has the potential to deliver substantial benefits to the region through local job creation, local business opportunities and new opportunities for the regional economy.

Economic studies1 have forecast that the Gonneville Project has the potential to deliver:

~1200 peak jobs during construction and ~500 jobs during operation. Chalice will prioritise local employment and suppliers wherever possible and expects these opportunities to grow significantly throughout construction and operations. 

A contribution of up to ~$18 billion to the WA economy over 18+ years of operations
with potential for extension beyond the initial modelled life.

Throughout the project timeline, Chalice will continue to fund opportunities through our Community Investment Program, and, once in operation, through the Chalice Mining Community Fund with the Shire of Toodyay.

Chalice and our contractors have contributed ~$8.2 million to the local communities surrounding the Gonneville Project over the past three years (FY21-23)

The Gonneville Project contains palladium, platinum, nickel, copper and cobalt. These are critical minerals essential for technologies that will help address climate change. Supply of these minerals is predicted to fall short of future demand.

These critical minerals are essential for technologies such as:

  • Batteries for electric vehicles – nickel and cobalt
  • Pollution control devices in cars (catalytic convertors) and green hydrogen – platinum and palladium
  • Solar panels and wind turbines – copper
  • Phones and everyday electronic devices – nickel and cobalt

How are environmental impacts assessed?

The Proposal will be assessed in accordance with the State Environmental Protection Act 1986 and the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

Chalice has undertaken extensive field studies since 2020 to understand the environmental considerations of the Project area, including:

  • Surveys of flora, fauna and vegetation to gather information about the diversity, health and location of species. This has included surveys for threatened and priority species such as black cockatoo and chuditch, and native vegetation studies.
  • Studies of surface and ground water resources to understand the water quality, quantity and movements.
  • Archaeological and ethnographic cultural heritage surveys conducted by Whadjuk Traditional Owners.

Chalice will prepare an Environmental Review Document (ERD) that will provide details of the proposed mine and its potential environmental impacts, and details of the studies completed by Chalice.
The ERD will be made available for the community to review and comment on as the Project develops.

Have your say

During this process there are opportunities for public comment, both formally through the Government or informally though Chalice.

The first formal opportunity for public comment will be a 7-day period advertised by the WA Environmental Protection Authority.
This will be an opportunity to comment on whether the Project warrants assessment, and the level of assessment required. 
Chalice has recommended the Project is assessed at the highest level – ‘Public Environmental Review’

For more information about the environmental assessment and approvals process, visit:

Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority (EPA)

Find information about the referral & approval process for the State Government.

Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW)

Find information about the referral & approval process for the Commonwealth Government

For more detail on the Project inclusions and environmental studies completed so far, head to the information sheets

Frequently Asked Questions

No. The Project does not include a mine in the Julimar State Forest.
The Gonneville Project is located on Chalice-owned farmland to the south. This land is already approximately 56% cleared from previous agricultural use.
The Project does not limit community access to the State Forest.
Chalice made the decision to restrict the Gonneville Project mine development area to farmland only, avoiding the Julimar State Forest. This decision was a direct response to community feedback about the importance of the State Forest.

The environmental approvals processes are expected to take approximately 3 years to complete.
Before it can be approved the Project will be subject to a comprehensive environmental assessment by the State and Commonwealth governments. Once the assessments have begun, Chalice will prepare an Environmental Review Document outlining the proposed mine and the outcomes of the further studies currently in progress.
The ERD will be made available for the community to review and comment on as the Project develops.

The Gonneville deposit starts at surface and therefore an initial open pit mine is proposed on Chalice-owned farmland. In later years, the Project may progress into an underground mine.
Open pit and underground mining options continue to be investigated.

There is no existing piped water infrastructure at the Gonneville Project, so water will need to be brought in to supply the mine.
Water supply options during construction are still being investigated further and may include temporary local sources and/or third-party suppliers.
Chalice has commenced discussions with the Water Corporation to investigate water supply options from Alkimos wastewater treatment plant.
Chalice recognises that water is a critical shared resource that must be managed efficiently and responsibly.

Current power supply to the Project site does not meet expected requirements for construction or mine operations.
Chalice has commenced discussions with Western Power to investigate power options.
Infrastructure developed to supply power to site may support additional power options in the local region.

Transportation corridors are still in design with road and/or existing rail infrastructure options being considered.
Chalice recognise roads are an important consideration for the community. Transport requirements and potential routes will continue to be investigated throughout the approvals process.

The Gonneville Project development area is located on 2,240ha (~22.4km2) of farmland owned by Chalice.
This land is already approximately 59% cleared from previous agricultural use.
Clearing of no more than 940ha (~9.4km2) of remnant native vegetation is proposed within the Mine Development Envelope.

A conceptual mine closure plan will be finalised during the approvals process.
Progressive rehabilitation will be undertaken throughout the mine operations, and landforms will be constructed to be safe, stable and non-polluting.
Chalice will consult with community throughout development and operations phases regarding mine closure and acceptable post-mining land uses.
At the end of the mine’s operations infrastructure will be decommissioned and removed (unless otherwise agreed with relevant stakeholders), closure earthworks completed, and vegetation re-established.

Chalice will prioritise local employment wherever possible and expects these opportunities to grow significantly throughout construction and operations.
The construction stage is expected to commence in 2027, with operations operations expected to begin in 2029.
Forecasting has projected there will be approximately 1200 peak jobs during construction, and approximately 500 jobs during operations.