The WA Environmental Protection Authority signed off on the Kimberley region project in October, but allowed for a two-week appeal period.

KBL confirmed an appeal against the approval in early November.

“The company has now been advised that the appeal has been dismissed,” KBL said today in a statement.

“The Minister for the Environment is now considering whether the project may proceed and, if so, the implementation conditions to which it should be subject.”

The project, 50km north of Kununurra, will comprise the construction of an access road, evaporation ponds, evaporation basin, workshops, laboratory, bioremediation facility, perimeter fence and offices.

The proposal included the discharge of waste to a tailings storage facility and road train transport of the concentrate produced to Wyndham port for export.

The project would process 400,000 tonnes per annum to produce 20,000tpa lead and 800,000 ounces per annum of silver.

Sorby took another step toward development recently with the announcement of a probable ore reserve at the site’s DE deposit of 2.4 million tonnes grading 5% lead and 54 grams per tonne silver.

Overall, the mineral resource estimate for the DE deposit, including indicated and inferred resources, sits at 5.8Mt at 3.5% lead, 0.4% zinc and 41gpt silver.

The company said the figures strengthened plans for a 10-year open cut operation at the mine.

Shares in KBL last closed at A4c.