Ministerial Statement: Movement at the station for Carmichael Coal

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Minister for Infrastructure and Planning
The Honourable Stirling Hinchliffe
10/02/2011

Movement at the station for Carmichael Coal

Minister for Infrastructure and Planning Stirling Hinchliffe today welcomed the release of the draft Terms of Reference (TOR) for the proposed $10.1 billion Carmichael Coal and Rail project in the Galilee Basin.

Mr Hinchliffe said the draft framework outlined the proposed scope of the State Government's requirement for a comprehensive Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the project.

"If it proceeds, the mine could potentially produce up to 60 million tonnes of coal a year, predominately to service the Indian domestic power market," Mr Hinchliffe said.

"The construction phase of the project could employ up to 5,000 workers and the ongoing operation could support 4,000 workers, with another 2,000 people employed to construct the associated railway.

"It's important to note that 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.

"The draft TOR provides the framework for the EIS and I encourage all interested parties to get in and have their say."

Under the proposal Adani Mining Pty Ltd is proposing to establish rail facilities and coal mines capable of producing 60 million tonnes of coal per annum coal mine.

The project will involve the development of both a greenfield open-cut coal mine and an underground mine in the Galilee Basin in central Queensland.

The project will be supported by rail facilities which may connect through to existing coal export terminals at either or both Abbot Point or Hay Point.

The Galilee Basin is the last undeveloped coal resource in Queensland and is expected to become the state's largest coal producing region.

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

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

The proposed $4.1 billion Carmichael Coal Mine is located mostly in the Moray Downs cattle station while the proposed $6 billion railway development is in the Mackay and Whitsunday Regional Council areas.

The mine is approximately 160 kilometres to the north-west of Clermont and approximately 100 kilometres north of Emerald.

The draft TOR are available at www.dip.qld.gov.au/carmichaelcoalmineandrail and will be available for review during opening hours at the display locations below from Monday 12 February 2011 to Monday 28 March 2011.

Display Locations

Barcaldine
   

Barcaldine Customer Service Centre, Barcaldine Regional Council
   

71 Ash Street, Barcaldine

Bowen
   

Bowen Customer Service Centre, Whitsunday Regional Council
   

67 Herbert Street, Bowen

Brisbane
   

Brisbane City Council Library
   

266 George Street, Brisbane

Brisbane
   

Department of Infrastructure and Planning, Customer Service Centre
   

Ground floor, 63 George Street, Brisbane

Charters Towers
   

Charters Towers Customer Service Centre, Charters Towers Regional Council
   

12 Mosman Street, Charters Towers.

Clermont
   

Clermont Office, Isaac Regional Council
   

Corner Karmoo and Daintree Streets, Clermont

Collinsville
   

Collinsville Customer Service Centre, Whitsunday Regional Council
   

Corner Stanley and Conway Streets, Collinsville

Dysart
   

Dysart Customer Service Centre, Isaac Regional Council
   

Shannon Crescent, Dysart

Emerald
   

Emerald Customer Service Centre,

Central Highlands Regional Council
   

65 Egerton Street, Emerald

Mackay
   

Mackay Customer Service Centre, Mackay Regional Council
   

79 Gordon Street, Mackay

Moranbah
   

Moranbah Customer Service Centre, Isaac Regional Council
   

Batchelor Parade, Moranbah

Sarina
   

Sarina Customer Service Centre, Mackay Regional Council
   

65 Broad Street, Sarina

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 carmichael@dip.qld.gov.au by 5pm on Monday 28 March 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 3227 8548.

A further opportunity for public comment on the project will be available when the EIS is release later in 2011.


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