The East Kimberley's mining pipeline: Sorby Hills, Speewah and Ridges

The East Kimberley is entering its busiest period of mine development since Argyle. Three projects are worth watching.

Sorby Hills (Boab Metals)

Boab Metals now owns 100% of the Sorby Hills silver, lead and zinc project near Kununurra, after buying out its partner in January 2026. The project is fully funded and under construction. It has sealed road access to Wyndham Port, and first production is targeted for the second half of 2027. In September, Boab lifted the resource by 7% to 50.6 million tonnes.

Speewah (Tivan)

Tivan's Speewah fluorite project sits about 100 km south of Wyndham. It's a joint venture with Japan's Sumitomo Corporation and the government agency JOGMEC, which together hold a 15% stake. On 3 November, Tivan upgraded the fluorite resource to 45 million tonnes, with most of it now in the Indicated category. Pilot testing has produced acid-grade fluorspar above the market benchmark. The company has held community forums in Wyndham and Kununurra and is working towards an investment decision. Traditional Owner agreements and environmental approvals are still to come.

Ridges

The Ridges iron ore mine is operating again under Kimberley Metals Group, with product trucked to port along the Great Northern Highway.

What this means for the region

Each of these projects will need sound agreements with Traditional Owners, clear benefit structures and real local employment and supply chain commitments. The companies that get this right early build projects that last. RPM has managed agreement implementation in the East Kimberley since the Argyle Participation Agreement and works with resource sector companies from early engagement through to implementation. Read more about our resource sector work

Argyle after closure: what the handback teaches the next generation of mines

Argyle produced about 90% of the world's pink diamonds before it closed in November 2020. Six years on, rehabilitation is still under way, and the handback of the land to the Miriwoong and Gija Traditional Owners is not yet complete.

Rio Tinto says demolition, landforming and revegetation are due to finish this year. After that comes at least 10 years of water and environmental monitoring. Closure costs have grown well beyond the original provision of $578 million, reportedly to around $850 million by 2024.

Traditional Owners, through Gelganyem, have been clear that they won't accept the land back unless the agreed rehabilitation standards are met. Rio Tinto has committed to a co-managed cultural heritage management plan with shared decision-making.

The lesson for new projects

Closure starts at the agreement stage. Rehabilitation standards, handback criteria and the role of Traditional Owners in closure decisions all need to be written in from day one. They shouldn't be negotiated at the end, when leverage and money are both running out.

RPM managed the implementation of the Argyle Participation Agreement from 2003 to 2009, including its benefit management and governance structures. We bring that experience to every agreement we deliver. See our key projects