Another milestone has been reached for New Hope Group’s proposed $300 million Colton Coal mine near Maryborough in Queensland, with the State Government giving its approval to three mining leases for the company’s open cut coking coal project.
According to Natural Resources and Mines Minister Dr Anthony Lynham, the project is expected to create up to 120 direct full-time construction jobs as well as approximately 120 ongoing production jobs for the Fraser Coast region.
“Importantly, that workforce will be sourced locally and the project will provide business opportunities and inject revenue into the local economy from locally-purchased goods and services,” Dr Lynham said.
Dr Lynham also stated that the project has gone through a rigorous assessment process which includes public obligations and Land Court hearings. From the assessment, the project was given strict conditions regarding water releases to protect the Mary River catchment as well as conditions to limit noise and dust.
The Colton Coal mine is expected to produce half-a-million tonnes per annum of high-grade coking coal during an eight to ten-year production life, which will be transported 270-kilometres by rail to the Wiggins Island Coal Export Terminal in Gladstone.
The project will include construction of a coal handling and preparation plant as well as offices, workshops and a haul road.
Dr Lynham said that New Hope was required to meet strict environmental, financial and technical capability as well as public interest requirements and address native title issues with traditional owners the company is granted its leases.
“The company now has to provide a plan of operations and financial assurance to the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection for work to start on site,” Dr Lynham said.
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Source: Queensland Government and Australian Mining