ABC.net reported that a Western Australian iron ore miner has been given environmental approval to expand its operations by more than 2,000%.

The WA Environmental Protection Authority will allow Crosslands Resources to take 37 billion litres of ground water a year for its Jack Hills mine.

Jack Hills is 400 kilometres north east of Geraldton, in the states mid-west.

The WA Government is yet to give final approval for the company to ramp up production from almost 2 million tonnes to 45 million tonnes of iron ore a year.

Mr Paul Vogel chairman of EPA agrees the area is environmentally sensitive, but said that the expansion can be well managed. He said that "It's a very signficant expansion of their mine and as a result of that, there would be clearing of around 9,300 hectares of native veg, which is significant in that area. It does contain pretty high conservation values."

(Sourced from www.abc.net.au)