Expansion plans for the Olympic Dam mine have been released in an Environmental Impact Statement following five years of study.

Infrastructure will include a desalination plant, a 270km electricity transmission line from Port Augusta, a 105km rail connection to the Adelaide-Darwin rail line, a new airport at Roxby Downs, a wharf at Port Augusta, expansion of Roxby Downs township and a new 10,000-person village near the mine.

The expanded mine will need 8,000 permanent workers (the current mine employs 3,000), with around 13,000 in flow-on jobs. The construction workforce will average 4,000 people over 10 years, peaking at 6,000 construction workers.

The EIS is available for public consultation until August 7. BHP Billiton hopes to have all necessary approvals in 2010 and start work soon after.