The Queensland Government has given conditional approval for the $6.4 billion Alpha Coal Project in Queensland’s Galilee Basin, the first mine in the region.

 

Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jeff Seeney welcomed the decision and said the project would produce significant economic benefits for the state and nation. 



“There’ll be an estimated $11 billion boost to the economy during the mine’s three year construction phase. 80 per cent of that will be retained in Queensland,” Mr Seeney said. 

 

The mine is expected to see some $80 billion in exports over its lifetime, equating to en economic boost of $1 billion per year.

 

Mr Seeney said the Coordinator-General had approved the mine with strict conditions and the move was a major step towards opening up the Galilee Basin’s coal deposits. 



“The proposal is for a 30 million tonnes per year open-cut coal mine and a 495km railway line from the mine to the Port of Abbot Point near Bowen,” he said.

 

The project is expected to generate up to 3600 construction jobs and 990 operational jobs. 

 

The mine site is 130 kilometres south-west of Clermont in the state’s north-east. The expected life of the mine is 30 years, with sufficient resources to potentially extend the project life beyond that time. 

 

The project is currently pending environmental approval from the Federal Government.