Legend waits for green light

TAHNEE WATSON

10 Oct, 2011 12:00 AM

THE next big thing in the North West's resource neighbourhood is looming closer, with phosphate giant Legend International Holdings now waiting on approval from Mount Isa City Council to build its fertiliser plant.

The project is building momentum and,with it, excitement and curiosity from our region's population used to mining but not so often with this resource.

Legend is throwing around some big numbers - a $1.7 billion project, 1300 jobs, three phosphate mines, a fertiliser plant, a long life span and a new industry which boasts one of the biggest lodes in Australia.

This massive phosphate mining project was recently recognised by the Queensland Government as a project of regional significance.

Legend's phosphate mine, complete with fertiliser plant, is expected to start operating in 2013 if approval is forthcoming.

Talk in the community verges from suspicion to elation.

It's a new industry; we don't "know" phosphate like we do base metals.

Who's going to work there? Where will they live?

Legend has a clearer picture of the road ahead, including their bold commitment that by its 10th year of operation, "it is assumed 100 per cent of the workforce will be local".

Reporter AMANDA WRIGHT spoke with Legend's key players and delivers her report on the North West's next burgeoning industry.

Read her report on Page 8.