Queensland has announced it will expedite the development of three major projects with significant economic benefits for the state.

 

Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development Jeff Seeney announced that the Co-ordinator General Barry Broe had approved two projects to proceed and relased the environmental impact for a third.

 

The State Government’s move has seen Pacific National’s freight terminal in Townsville and a change to the rail rout to service BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance’s Caval Ridge Coal Mine receive approval to proceed, while the EIS for Nathan Dam has been released for public comment.

 

Approval of the Townsville freight terminal expansion follows the signing of a 10 year contract between Pacific National, Xstrata Copper and Queensland Rail to transport magnetite concentrate from the Ernest Henry mine in Cloncurry to the Port of Townsville.