Latest news with #IanHolland
ABC News
2 days ago
- Business
- ABC News
Yalgoo residents wary of new FI Joint Venture iron ore mine's groundwater impacts
Residents of a small inland community in Western Australia fear plans by a Chinese-backed company to build a large iron ore mine will cause irreversible damage to their underground water supply and damage a historic tourist hotspot. FI Joint Venture (FIJV) received environmental approval last year to build a 310-million-tonne open pit iron ore mine less than 20 kilometres from Yalgoo, a small Mid West WA community with historic roots in mining and pastoral operations. FIJV is owned by Hong Kong-based joint venture company Mineral Investment Technology Group (MITG), with shareholders in the Sultanate of Oman. Yalgoo residents are worried about the impact of the planned mine on their groundwater, and the potential destruction of the historic Jokers Tunnel tourist attraction, a tunnel carved through solid rock by pioneering gold miners in the 1800s. The Yogi mine has received a groundwater licence to extract 4.5 gigalitres each year from the region. A gigalitre is 1 billion litres of water. The Environmental Protection Authority has instructed that there must be "no impact to quantity or quality of the Yalgoo Water Reserve" and "no adverse impacts to nearby groundwater users identified at risk within the drawdown area, including pastoral stations for stock use". Shire of Yalgoo chief executive Ian Holland said he was worried. "The paleochannels are not terribly well known. We won't see the effects of the drawdown and de-watering of the mine until it has physically happened," Mr Holland said. "There's unfortunately no way of knowing until the water starts getting pumped out. "It will definitely affect stock water. Chances are more bores will be needed in different areas." After identifying that several bores used to water livestock could be impacted by FIJV plans, the company said it would find an alternative water supply for any impacted pastoralists. The shire has lodged an objection in WA's mining Wardens Court against FIJV's plans for mining in the Yalgoo area, which Mr Holland said could result in mining of a hill containing the tourist attraction Jokers Tunnel, placing it at risk of destruction. Mr Holland said the shire had unsuccessfully attempted to negotiate compensation from the company if the tunnel were destroyed. "We would like to see it protected into the future; it is a fantastic cultural and local tourist spot that has existed for the past 100 years," he said. Mr Holland said he hoped the prospect of the mine's 1,000 workers "just up the road" in a camp would benefit the small town of 300 people, which had a pub, a shop and a nursing post. He said the shire was hoping for co-location of essential services, such as healthcare. He also hoped some people working at the mine would choose to live in Yalgoo, rather than a fly-in, fly-out, or drive-in, drive-out to the mining camp. But he said the miner would build its own airstrip rather than using the existing facility in Yalgoo. Trucks carrying iron ore from inland mines to the closest port in Geraldton pass through Yalgoo every few minutes. Along with its Yogi magnetite iron ore mine, FIJV wants to construct a 250-kilometre slurry pipeline from the mine to the Geraldton port as a way to transport the mineral. It also plans a return water pipeline and a gas supply pipeline from Dampier in the north to the Bunbury Natural Gas Pipeline in the south. Mr Holland welcomed a proposal that would not put more trucks on the road. But he said the prospect of an above-ground pipeline through the shire presented concerns for livestock and native animal movement, and bushfire control. "It would be nice to see co-investment for things like rail," he said. In a statement, FIJV director Leon Taylor said the company was confident and excited about its mining development in the Yalgoo area, saying it would benefit the community and the region. Mr Taylor said the shire's concerns about groundwater impact were misplaced. "The water licence was granted subject to anticipated and strict conditions, including monitoring, and the company will comply with all conditions," a statement read. Mr Taylor said the mining warden had asked the shire to produce statements in support of its objections by July 4, 2025. He said the company would consider any written statements that it received from the shire, but could not comment further while the process was still in the Wardens Court. Earlier this year, FIJV announced an agreement with Green Iron and Steel Australia to develop a magnetite processing hub, producing shippable hot briquetted iron as part of a supply chain for low-emission steel production.
BBC News
24-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Ahmed & Hill tons put Leics in charge against Lancs
Rothesay County Championship Division Two, Uptonsteel County Ground, Leicester (day two)Lancashire 206: Wells 36, Hurst 31; van Beek 3-38, Hull 3-43Leicestershire 457: Ahmed 136, Hill 119, Holland 50; Balderson 3-106, Hartley 2-77Leicestershire 8 pts, Lancashire 3 ptsMatch scorecard A record-breaking stand from Rehan Ahmed and Lewis Hill put Division Two leaders Leicestershire in charge against Lancashire on day two at the Uptonsteel County with his first-class best of 136, and Hill, whose 119 was his first three-figure score for two seasons, put on 256, a championship-best for Leicestershire's third wicket against Lancashire, beating a record dating back to bowlers picked up seven wickets throughout the afternoon and evening sessions, but a half-century from all-rounder Ian Holland helped the Foxes close with an intimidating 251-run also picked up all five batting bonus points, completing a maximum bonus point return from the game before being bowled out for 457. The partnership between Hill and Ahmed, not out overnight on 29 and 26 respectively, was all the more admirable for the bowler-friendly conditions at the start of play after overnight rain and with heavy cloud two right-handers faced a real battle for the first hour, with Lancashire seamers Tom Bailey and George Balderson both beating the bat on several times. But no chances were created, with the nearest either batter coming to dismissal being when Josh Bohannon's throw almost ran out determination to be positive paid off, notably when he walked down to the pitch to Will Williams and lofted the New Zealand-born seamer for the sweetest of straight sixes. Ahmed, while being impressively determined in defence, also began to unveil some characteristically flamboyant shots. Both feet were off the ground when he flayed consecutive short deliveries from Anderson Phillip to the cover boundary before going to his 50 by whipping the same bowler through square kept pace, reaching his 50 with a top-edged cut which sailed high over the slips before two perfectly timed on-drives. By lunch 130 runs had been added and the Lancashire attack was looking understandably looked even more so an hour into the afternoon session, when Hill and Ahmed cut loose. They passed the county's championship record third-wicket partnership against Lancashire of 163, compiled by Walter Bradshaw and Norman Armstrong in 1929, and then the first-class record of 165, compiled more recently by Ben Slater and Colin Ackermann in the Bob Willis Trophy in 2020. Ahmed brought up his century - his second against Lancashire in as many matches - with a cut down to third man, his 14th four, after 164 balls. Hill followed, his century coming off 150 deliveries with 14 fours and a six, and both accelerated thereafter before Ahmed sliced at drive at the left-arm spin of Tom Hartley, giving Keaton Jennings a straightforward catch at short third also picked up the wicket of Hill, caught behind cutting at a ball which bounced more than he expected, before captain Peter Handscomb edged an Anderson Phillip out-swinger to Jennings at second slip.A partnership of 76 between Holland and Ben Cox pushed Leicestershire close to 400 before Holland, Logan van Beek and the tail steered the Foxes past Reporters' Network supported by Rothesay
BBC News
17-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Handscomb gives Leics the edge over Middlesex
Rothesay County Championship Division Two, Lord's (day two)Middlesex 232: Davies 49, Higgins 44; Holland 5-35 & 10-0Leicestershire 274: Handscomb 87, Holland 37, Green 36; Gohar 4-34Middlesex 3 pts trail Leicestershire 4 pts by 32 runsMatch scorecard Peter Handscomb returned to haunt his old county as Leicestershire kept their noses in front on an absorbing day two against Middlesex at Lord' made only two fifties in 21 innings over two seasons for the Seaxes, but added to his century here last season with a defiant 87. It marked his 100th score of 50 or more in first-class cricket, while Ian Holland (37) and Ben Green (36) lent support in stands of 93 and 59, respectively, to carry the visitors to Pakistan international spinner Zafar Gohar kept the hosts in touch with 4-34, but the missed stumping off his bowling which reprieved Handscomb on 54 may yet prove openers Sam Robson and Max Holden survived a nervy four overs before the close, reducing their arrears by 10 runs in the process. Leicestershire were initially bogged down as the new ball regularly whistled past both edges of the bat. Sol Budinger opted to counter-attack, depositing one from Dane Paterson over mid-on for six, but the former South African international reaped rapid vengeance, bowling him with a beauty which clipped Roland-Jones came on as the day's first change and struck with his second delivery as a lack of footwork and a tentative poke saw Rehan Ahmed inside-edge the ball onto his Naavya Sharma found Lewis Hill's edge in his opening over in first-class cricket, but the usually safe hands of Sam Robson grassed the chance at first slip. Hill though didn't make the most of the reprieve as Roland-Jones bowled him off the inside edge soon though, found an ally in Holland as the early afternoon developed into a game of patience, with 13 runs squeezed from 11 overs. A boundary took Handscomb to his landmark half-century, but he should have gone on 54 when wicketkeeper Jack Davies missed a stumping after charging Gohar. A huge lbw shout to the next delivery also went unheeded, after which Handscomb put on 93 with Holland before the all-rounder was bamboozled by one from Gohar which beat his defences and dislodged the was part of a lovely spell by the left-arm spinner either side of tea in which he also snared Ben Cox and Logan Van Beek, both leg 197-7, Middlesex were even scenting a narrow first-innings lead, but Green opened his shoulders, clubbing Hollman over the short new ball was dispatched with similar distain, a straight drive back past Roland Jones, one of the shots of the appeared to be inching towards his century, but was undone on Australia's unlucky number 87, lofting the first ball of Gohar's new spell to the hands of enterprising innings ended when he was pinned in front by Higgins, before Sharma returned to scatter Tom Scriven's stumps and claim the maiden first-class wicket he should have had earlier in the Reporters' Network supported by Rothesay
BBC News
16-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Holland gives Foxes upper hand against Middlesex
Rothesay County Championship Division Two, Lord's (day one)Middlesex 232: Davies 49, Higgins 44; Holland 5-35Leicestershire 22-1: Budinger 14*; Higgins 1-1Middlesex 0 pts, Leicestershire 3 pts Match scorecard Ian Holland underlined his status as Division Two's leading wicket-taker with figures of 5-35 to give Leicestershire the upper hand on the opening day of their County Championship clash with 34-year-old medium-pacer took his wicket tally to 26 for the season, returning 3-9 during a relentlessly accurate opening eight-over salvo to reduce the home side to 19-3 at Lord' gradually rallied, with Jack Davies top-scoring on 49, before Holland completed only the second five-wicket haul of his first-class career to dismiss them for Leicestershire reduced the arrears by 22 before the close, they lost Rishi Patel to the final ball of the day, leg before to Ryan won the toss, Foxes captain Peter Handscomb sent his former team into bat – a move that was immediately vindicated as Holland set about wrecking Middlesex's top order during the first fourth delivery from the Nursery End nipped in and stayed low to remove Sam Robson – and the one that zoomed back in the reverse direction to hit Max Holden's off stump was virtually balls later, Leus du Plooy speared Holland to mid=wicket to leave Middlesex reeling, but Luke Hollman – promoted to three following his maiden hundred against Kent last time out – launched a repair drives to the short cover fence off Logan van Beek got Hollman up and running, but it was a measure of Leicestershire's accuracy that those remained the only boundaries of the innings until the 18th also began to accumulate runs as the pair hauled Middlesex's total beyond 50 and, although Hollman perished swishing outside off stump at Tom Scriven, Ben Geddes started brightly with a couple of well-timed clips to the leg looked as if Middlesex had weathered the storm, with Higgins advancing rapidly to 44 after lunch, only to become Holland's fourth victim as he played on attempting to leave the Hull picked up the next wicket, tempting Geddes with a short ball that he flicked high into the hands of long leg, but Davies cut and drove to good effect as he and Zafar Gohar rebuilt with a buoyant stand of capitalised on Hull's tendency to pitch short, punishing the left-armer on both sides of the wicket and thumping him to the point boundary to raise the 50 partnership prior to a close call when he edged Scriven between wicketkeeper and slip on 31, Davies batted doggedly after the interval and was inching towards a third half-century in as many matches when he was castled by Ben Ahmed's tidy eight-over spell brought him the wicket of Gohar, miscuing to backward point for 36 and, while teenage debutant Naavya Sharma kept Toby Roland-Jones company during a lively knock of 29, Middlesex were unable to scrape a batting bonus wrapped up the innings by having last man Dane Paterson caught in the deep and that left Leicestershire's openers seven overs to negotiate – a task they almost completed, only for Higgins to strike right before Reporters' Network supported by Rothesay
