A new port for the export of iron ore from Lucky Bay on the Eyre Peninsula has been approved by the South Australian Government.

Mining company IronClad will now try and source funding to allow the $23 million project to go ahead.

Managing director Robert Mencel says it hopes to start exporting from the facility on the Spencer Gulf next year.

“I think, for fishermen, they won’t see any impact of what we’re doing.

“My understanding is there are 270 major ship movements in the gulf per annum. We’re looking to increase that by 13.”