Cameby Downs Expansion Project
Syntech Resources Pty Ltd proposes to expand the Cameby Downs mine, located approximately 360 kilometres west, north-west of Brisbane and 16km north-east of Miles, in south-east Queensland. The mine extracts thermal coal from the Juandah Formation in the Surat Basin. The Cameby Downs Coal Mine is currently on mining lease ML50233.
The Cameby Downs Expansion Project proposes to increase the rate of mining of run of mine (ROM) coal from 1.8 million tonnes a year (Mt/y) to 25Mt/y to produce 15Mt/y to 20Mt/y of product coal for export. The mine life is estimated at around 40 years, comprising a two year construction period and 35 to 40 years of production. The total amount of ROM coal available for production is estimated to be in excess of 1 billion tonnes. The project site has an area of approximately 13,370ha. The tenements that would be affected by the project are: ML50233; MDL247; and EPCs 732, 813, 873 and 1165.
Major elements of the project include:
- Open cut mining, of the Cameby Downs coal resource, located within the existing Cameby Downs mining lease and on additional, adjoining mining lease areas.
- Open cut mining of the Rywung coal resource, located approximately 10km east of the Cameby Downs area.
- Transportation of ROM coal from Rywung to the Cameby Downs ROM pad by conveyor, dedicated trains, or road trains on a dedicated haul road.
- Processing of coal at the Cameby Downs Coal Handling and Preparation Plant, including crushing, screening and washing, with waste products deposited in a rejects dam.
- Out-of-pit spoil dump and in-pit spoil disposal at both the Cameby Downs and Rywung sites.
- Rail loading at Cameby Downs, and transport of processed coal by rail to the Port of Brisbane and the Port of Gladstone.
It is currently proposed that open cut mining would use excavators, shovels and trucks. However, there is the possibility that draglines and/or conveyor systems could be used for overburden removal if they prove to be technically and economically viable.
Water demand for the Project is estimated at 8,000 to 10,000 megalitres a year for washing of the coal, dust suppression and production of potable water. Recycled coal seam gas water from nearby coal seam methane extraction operations would be used as the water source for operations.
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Commonwealth)
The project is a controlled action under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). The State’s EIS process has been accredited for the assessment under Part 8 of the EPBC Act in accordance with the Bilateral Agreement between the Commonwealth of Australia and the State of Queensland. The controlling provisions are sections 18 and 18A (Listed threatened species and communities).
In accordance with section 46 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994, the Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) has finalised the terms of reference (TOR) for carrying out an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the proposal.
The process for the assessment of this project is as follows:
The proponent will now prepare the EIS. The proponent has requested and been granted an extension of time for the period in which the EIS should be submitted. The proponent now has until 21 January 2013 to submit the EIS to DERM for assessment. When the EIS is submitted, DERM will make it available for public review and will invite public submissions. Notices inviting submissions will be placed in newspapers and on the DERM website at that time.
Copies of publicly available documents can be obtained by accessing the links below:
- Final terms of reference (PDF, 448K)*
- Initial advice statement describing the project (PDF, 2.4M)*
- Public notice (s46 EP Act) (PDF, 38K)*
For further information about the EIS process for the Cameby Downs Expansion Project please contact the EIS Co-ordinator.
* Requires Adobe Reader
Last updated 27 July 2011