Environment and Resource Management

Newlands Coal Extension Project

Project summary

Xstrata Coal Queensland Pty Ltd (Xstrata Coal Queensland) as manager on behalf of the Newlands Collinsville Abbot Point Joint Venture (NCA Joint Venture) proposes to extend the life of the existing Newlands coal mine. The project is referred to as the Newlands Coal Extension Project and it is located in the northern Bowen Basin near Glenden, approximately 140 km west of Mackay. The NCA Joint Venture is an unincorporated joint venture of Xstrata Coal Queensland (55 per cent), Itochu Coal Resources Australia (25 per cent), ICRA NCA (10 per cent) and Sumisho Coal Australia Pty Ltd (10 per cent).

The proponent has applied for new mining leases ML 10352, ML 10361 and ML 10362, covering 11,792 hectares. No overall increase in current coal production rates is proposed.

Mining would be by open cut and underground mining operations. Open cut mining activities would commence in 2016, with a proposed mine life of 22 years and would produce up to five million tonnes of run of mine coal (ROM) per annum. Open cut mining would be carried out using existing draglines and large scale truck and shovel equipment. The underground mining activities would involve an extension of existing longwall activities at the Northern Underground mine. Underground mining would commence in 2013 with a proposed mine life of 13 years, and would produce up to six million tonnes of ROM coal per annum. All coal mined from the project would be hauled by truck or transferred by conveyor for processing at the existing coal handling and processing plant in the current Newlands main deposit area. There would be no coal preparation, tailings or reject storage facilities located on the new leases. Annual water requirements for the project would be the same as for the current mining operations of approximately 5070 megalitres per annum. Annual power supply would also be similar with an anticipated average power consumption of 158 gigawatt hours.

There will be no significant increase of the existing workforce because of the extension project. Existing employees and contractors to the Newlands Coal Project would be redeployed as required from other parts of the Newlands operation. The workforce numbers are currently 1120 employees.

The unsealed Collinsville–Elphinstone Road may require closure and the impacts will be investigated during the environmental impact statement (EIS) assessment after consultation with local landowners, the Whitsunday Regional Council and the Isaac Regional Council.

Environmental Protection Act 1994 (Queensland)

An application for mining leases (MLs 10352, 10361, 10362) were lodged with the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation. An application was made by the proponent under section 238 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994 (EP Act) for an amendment to the existing environmental authority for the Newlands Coal Extension Project. Under section 246 of the EP Act it was determined that assessment of the Newlands Coal Extension Project would be by EIS.

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Commonwealth)

On 23 August 2011, the Commonwealth Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities determined that the proposed project was a controlled action under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. The controlling provisions are sections 18 and 18A (listed threatened species and communities) and 20 and 20A (listed migratory species). The project will be assessed under the bilateral agreement between the Commonwealth and the State of Queensland using the EIS prepared under the EP Act.

Public notification of final Terms of Reference (TOR)

The process for the assessment of this project is as follows:

The final TOR for the EIS was issued to the proponent on 27 January 2012. The proponent may submit an EIS to DERM within two years or any longer period decided by DERM. At that time, the EIS will be made available for public review and the department’s chief executive will invite written submissions on the EIS from the public.

In the meantime, copies of currently available public documents are accessible through the links below:

Final Terms of Reference (PDF, 413K)*

Initial Advice Statement (PDF, 3.4M)*

Public Notice (s46 EP Act) (PDF, 61K)*

For further information regarding the EIS process for this proposal, please contact the EIS coordinator or email <eis@derm.qld.gov.au>.

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Last updated 23 January 2012

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