ASX-listed Tivan is progressing development planning for a revised access road to its Speewah fluorite project, in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, with a focus on cultural sensitivity and environmental stewardship.

The Speewah project, being advanced as Australia’s first acid-grade fluorspar mining and processing operation in partnership with Sumitomo, is located about 100 km south of the Port of Wyndham and 110 km south-west of Kununurra. A feasibility study is under way.

Currently, access to the site is via 47 km of single-lane historical tracks from the Doon Doon roadhouse on the Great Northern Highway. Tivan, through its subsidiary Speewah Mining, holds three miscellaneous licences over much of this corridor and has reached an access agreement with Glen Hill Pastoral Aboriginal Corporation for sections not already covered.

As part of the prefeasibility study released in July 2024, engineering group Lycopodium assessed route options to improve site access in a way that balances economic viability and cultural considerations. Following consultations facilitated by the Kimberley Land Council (KLC), Traditional Owners and Native Title Holders expressed a preference for the revised access road to avoid Liyama Spring and Liyama Gorge – culturally significant areas through which the existing track passes.

The revised alignment, now significantly progressed, is more direct at about 37 km in length and turns off from the Great Northern highway 5 km south of the current route. The new road bypasses both the Doon Doon community and sensitive cultural sites.

Planning activities completed to date include desktop and field geotechnical mapping, lodgement of three new miscellaneous licence applications (L80/122, L80/123, L80/124), and resolution of all Native Title Act objections. The company has executed Deeds of Variation to Heritage Protection Agreements with the KLC on behalf of both the Yurriyangem Taam Native Title Holders and the Nganjuwarr Native Title Claim Group to extend coverage to the revised alignment.

Further, Tivan has signed resourcing protocol agreements (RPAs) with the KLC and respective Native Title parties, establishing frameworks for negotiating Indigenous land use agreements. The RPAs provide for structured negotiations and funding over the next six months, culminating in an authorisation meeting in December 2025.

“These steps enable Tivan to advance development plans for the access road on schedule and in support of the feasibility study currently progressing,” the company said.

Tivan is also planning rehabilitation of the existing tracks through Liyama Spring and Liyama Gorge. Engagement with land rehabilitation and environmental specialists is under way to develop a site-specific, culturally informed plan, which will be tendered to local contractors. While the tracks pre-date Tivan’s involvement, the company says it will undertake rehabilitation once the project becomes operational.

Commenting on the progress, Tivan executive chairperson Grant Wilson said that the company had been working closely with the Kimberley Land Council and the Traditional Owners and Native Title Holders of the Speewah project to progress planning for the access road to the project site in a "culturally respectful manner".

"We are grateful for their engagement and support in working through the significant complexity involved. We are pleased to have resolved the various matters in a timely fashion, in support of the formal completion of our joint venture with Sumitomo Corporation."

Meanwhile, Tivan has also received approval from the Western Australian Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety for a supplementary Programme of Work, enabling it to proceed with its ongoing 35 000 m, 335-hole drilling campaign at the Speewah site.