Kunioon Project
Tarong Energy Corporation (TEC) are examining the prospect of developing a new open cut coal mine, to be known as the Kunioon Project. This mine would be a replacement for the Meandu Mine which supplies coal to the Tarong and Tarong North Power Stations. The project is located on a Mineral Development Licence (MDL) area 201. The MDL is located in the South Burnett district approximately 15 kilometres south of Kingaroy, 17 kilometres west of Nanango and approximately 150 kilometres northwest of Brisbane.
Key features of the project include:
- Open cut coal mine;
- Anticipated extraction rate approximately 10 MT/a of Run of Mine (ROM) coal;
- Full production anticipated in early 2012;
- Life of Kunioon Project planned for at least 25 years;
- Overland ROM coal conveyor approximately 16 km to the Meandu Mine Coal Handling Plant;
- Civil works and ancillary facilities at Kunioon Project such as sediment dams, roads and power infrastructure as well as offices, workshops and ablutions.
The mining method for the project will be conventional truck and shovel operation working in two pits, Main Kunioon and Goodger. Coal will be extracted in approximately equal ratios from the Kunioon, Goodger and Swain seams. Drilling and blasting will be required in the overburden removal and coal extraction phases of the mining. Coal will be hauled by mine truck to a ROM coal stockpile facility prior to being conveyed to the CHPP.
Major project capital expenditure is estimated to be in the order of $220 million with the number of construction jobs peaking at between 200 and 220 and jobs during full scale mining operations anticipated to be around 260.
The period of construction activity to bring the mine up to full production is estimated to be in the order of 12 to 18 months.
RTCA submitted to the department an application to prepare a voluntary environmental impact statement (EIS), which the department accepted on 24 April 2007. The department will manage the assessment of the project using the EIS process set out in part 1 of chapter 3 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994 (EP Act).
The Commonwealth Department of the Environment and Water Resources has determined that the project constitutes a controlled action pursuant to s 75 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). The EPBC Act controlling provisions are sections 18 and 18A (listed threatened species and communities) and sections 20 and 20A (listed migratory species). The Commonwealth has accredited the State's EIS process, which will satisfy both State and Commonwealth assessment requirements.
The Terms of Reference (TOR) has been completed and was issued to the proponent on Friday 23 November 2007. A copy of the final TOR is available by accessing the link below. The proponent will now finalise the draft environmental impact statement addressing the requirements of the final TOR.
The process for the assessment of the Kunioon Project is as follows:
Copies of publicly available documents can be obtained by accessing the links below:
- Final Terms of Reference;
- Initial Advice Statement (Project description); and
- Public Notice (s46 EP Act).
For further information about the EIS process for the Kunioon Project, contact the EIS Co-ordinator on telephone (07) 3227 7678. A copy of the final Terms of Reference and Initial Advice Statement and additional information about the project is also available by contacting the Kunioon EIS project team on freecall 1800 671 902; Email: info@kuniooneis.com.au or write to: Kunioon Project EIS, Reply Paid, PO Box 372, Clayfield Qld 4011.
Last updated: 25 July 2008