Potential fifth mine in the Galilee Basin could generate 1,600 jobs for Queenslanders

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Galilee Basin, QLD Image credit: ©Greenpeace/Andrew Quilty

Queensland’s Coordinator-General has granted approval for a potential fifth mine in the Galilee Basin which could create up to 1,600 jobs for Queenslanders and about 1,300 ongoing operational jobs.

Galilee Basin, QLD Image credit: ©Greenpeace/Andrew Quilty
Galilee Basin, QLD
Image credit: ©Greenpeace/Andrew Quilty

“The Newman LNP Government has been working hard to facilitate the investment required to open up the Galilee Basin. Labor ignored this important industry, but with our strong plan it is growing and providing jobs for Queenslanders,” said Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jeff Seeney in a media release.

“AMCI plans to build an open-cut and underground thermal coal mine which could produce up to 17 million tonnes of coal a year for export. This is another step forward for the Galilee Basin and follows Alpha Coal, Kevin’s Corner, Galilee Coal Project and Carmichael Coal Mine and Rail Project receiving both State and Federal Government approvals.”

The South Galilee Coal Project will be located 12 kilometres south-west of Alpha and about 180 kilometres west of Emerald in Central Queensland with an estimated operational life of 33 years.

Adertisement

“If the mine proceeds, AMCI must enter into make-good agreements with landholders and undertake groundwater modelling and monitoring. The mine itself will have to incorporate flood protection measures like levee banks and implement a strict mine water management system,” said Mr Seeney.

“With this decision, the Coordinator-General has approved 16 major projects to proceed in our State, worth more than $67 billion and able to create about 44,000 jobs for Queenslanders. I’m pleased to say the Coordinator-General’s decision rate is 2.3 times greater than under Labor, proving we have streamlined approvals processes to get the State’s economy back on track.”

AMCI is proposing the project be delivered in three stages. Stage one is the open-cut Epsilon stage where coal will be transported on the Central Western Railway for export through the Port of Gladstone. For stages two and three, coal will be transported on a common user railway to the Port of Abbot Point.

The Coordinator-General’s evaluation report on the South Galilee Coal Project Environmental Impact Statement will be available online shortly at www.dsdip.qld.gov.au/south-galilee-coal