Joint statement: South Galilee Coal Significant Project Declaration

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Joint Statement:

Premier and Minister for the Arts
The Honourable Anna Bligh

Minister for Infrastructure and Planning
The Honourable Stirling Hinchliffe
29/05/2010

South Galilee Coal Significant Project Declaration

A proposed $1.5 billion coal mine near Alpha will undergo rigorous environmental assessment after being declared a significant project today by Queensland's Coordinator-General Colin Jensen.

AMCI (Alpha) and Bandanna Energy plan to establish a new coal mine on two of their exploration tenements near Alpha in the Galilee Basin, approximately 450 kilometres west of Rockhampton.

Premier Anna Bligh said the South Galilee Coal Project could generate 2000 construction jobs, a permanent workforce of 750 people to operate the mine and numerous support jobs for suppliers and contractors.

"This ambitious project has the potential to operate for at least 40 years and it is a massive vote of confidence in Central Queensland and the resource industry here," Ms Bligh said.

"It is the fourth major coal mine proposal in the Galilee Basin and could produce up to 20 million tonnes per annum of high-volatile, low-sulphur steaming coal for export to international markets.

"The project will target thermal coal at depths suitable for both open cut and underground mining over the next 43 years, if it passes the strict environmental criteria.

Minister for Infrastructure and Planning Stirling Hinchliffe said the South Galilee Coal Project will utilise common user rail and port infrastructure required for the Alpha, Kevin's Corner and Waratah projects to export coal through Abbot Point.

"Plans for common user water and power transmission for these projects are also being developed," he said.

"Queensland will benefit through long-term employment opportunities and contributions of royalties from international markets who have a demand for good quality thermal coal from Australia.

"The Galilee Basin coal resources are currently undeveloped and present an opportunity for further development to grow its potential as a resource powerhouse."

The Coordinator-General said a significant project declaration was not an indication of approval or support for a project.

"This declaration is recognition of the significant complexity of the project, the substantial benefits it may bring and the need to carefully assess its impacts and how they could be mitigated if the project is approved," Mr Jensen said.

"This means it requires an environmental impact statement (EIS) under the State Development and Public Works Act 1971.

"A comprehensive EIS process and assessment of the project will be managed by the Department of Infrastructure and Planning on my behalf.

"It will include an evaluation of the cumulative social impacts of all the Galilee Basin projects on communities in the region.

"The next step is the preparation of terms of reference for the EIS. These will be circulated to key stakeholders and advertised for public comment in the coming months."

For more information on the South Galilee Coal project, go to www.dip.qld.gov.au/projects.

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