Balaclava Island Coal Terminal

[colinw]

Ministerial statement: click here.

Map of project: http://www.dip.qld.gov.au/resources/project/balaclava-coal/bicet-ias-figure-4-3.pdf

This project will include a branch line from Raglan to the coal stockpile about 5km from the proposed port at Balaclava Island.  The remaining 5km will be bridged by a conveyor.

There was previously a branch line to Port Alma, not far from this proposed development.  AFAIK it was never used for export coal traffic.

Treasurer and Minister for State Development and Trade
The Honourable Andrew Fraser

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Have your say on the Balaclava Coal Export Terminal project

Treasurer and Minister for State Development Andrew Fraser today welcomed the Coordinator-General's decision to invite members of the public to have their say on a proposed $1 billion coal export terminal on Balaclava Island.

Mr Fraser said the release today of draft Terms of Reference (TOR) provided an outline for a comprehensive Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the project.

"The release of the draft TOR follows the announcement of the proposal as a significant project last year," Mr Fraser said.

"If approved, the construction phase of the project could employ up to 800 workers with 100 full-time jobs planned once the site is fully operational.

"The draft TOR provides the framework for the EIS and allows residents and other interested parties their first chance to have a say on the project."

Xstrata Coal Queensland Pty Ltd is proposing a new coal export facility at Balaclava Island, near Port Alma, approximately 40 kilometres north of Gladstone.

The terminal will be designed to export up to 35 million tonnes per annum of coal from the Bowen and Surat Basins to global markets. If approved, it will cater for vessels of up to 110,000 tonnes.

"The proposal also involves the construction of a rail spur from the North Coast Line, just north of the township of Raglan to the proposed coal stockpiles," Mr Fraser said.

"Due to the tidal nature of Balaclava Island, proposed coal stockpiles would have to be stored on high ground, approximately 5km from the ship loader.

"Under the proposal, a new overland conveyor would also be built to transport coal from stockpiles to the new ship loading facility.

"Balaclava Island is owned and managed by the Gladstone Ports Corporation and is designated as strategic port land."

Coordinator-General Keith Davies said the scale, potential effects and complexity of the approvals for the project required a rigorous EIS.

"Declaring this proposal a significant project does not constitute Government approval or support for the project, this is just the start of the comprehensive EIS process," Mr Davies said.

"The EIS will consider the potential environmental, cultural and socio-economic impacts on the local community."

The draft TOR is available at www.dip.qld.gov.au/bicet and is available for review during opening hours at the following display locations from Monday 28 February 2011 to Monday 11 April 2011.

·Bajool Community Post Office, 60 High Street, Bajool

·Brisbane City Council Library, 266 George Street, Brisbane

·Gladstone Regional Council Library, 39 Goondoon Street, Gladstone

·Mount Larcom Community Post Office, 47 Raglan Street, Mount Larcom

·Rockhampton Regional Council Library

- Southside - 230 Bolsover Street, Rockhampton

- Northside - 154 Berserker Street, Rockhampton

- Yeppoon - John Street, Yeppoon

·Department of Infrastructure and Planning Customer Service Counter, Ground Floor, 63 George Street, Brisbane

Last year the Commonwealth government determined that the project was a controlled action requiring assessment and approval under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) before it can proceed.

All public submissions must be in writing and received by the Coordinator-General via post to PO Box 15009, City East QLD 4002; by fax to 07 3225 8282 or by e-mail to bicetl@dip.qld.gov.au by 5pm on Monday 11 April 2011.

If you have been affected by the recent floods and have difficulty providing a submission to the Coordinator-General by the due date, please contact the project manager to discuss alternative arrangements on 07 3234 0540.

A further opportunity for public comment on the project will be available when the EIS is released, anticipated to be later in 2011.

[Golliwog]

Hmmmm, whos building this? I've only heard about the Wiggins Island plans, and even then only by name, I'm not entirely sure what the scope of that is.

[colinw]

Its in the release - Xstrata.  This terminal will service the coal trains from the Wandoan area when the Surat Basin Rail (Wandoan - Banana "Southern Missing Link") starts running. Xstrata have a major coal mine under development near Wandoan.

[Golliwog]

...Xstrata who will cut cost wherever they can? Good good