The draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Whitehaven Coal’s Winchester South Project is now available for public comment.
The $1 billion Winchester South Project, located 30 kilometres south-east of Moranbah, in Queensland’s well-established Bowen Basin, would involve the construction of a new open-cut coal mine, a coal processing plant and a rail loop to connect with the existing Bowen Basin coal rail network.
The mine is forecast to produce up to 11 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) of primarily metallurgical coal for steel manufacturing over a 30-year mine life. It is expected to generate 500 jobs during construction and 500 jobs during operations.
“This project will be a massive jobs and business boost for Central Queensland and the Isaac region particularly, with those benefits extending east to Mackay,” said Queensland Minister for Resources, the Hon. Scott Stewart MP, today.
“Whitehaven Coal has a strong record of local employment and is committed to maintaining local employment here in Queensland.”
“Ongoing investment in our resources sector continues to underpin Queensland’s economic recovery plan and prove that Queensland is the place to be when it comes to resources investment.”
Member for Mackay, Julieanne Gilbert, welcomed the next stage of the approvals process to get the Winchester South mine underway.
“This project has the potential to make a major contribution to not only Mackay but also the region and the state,” she said.
“The resources industry is a key part of Mackay and people and businesses throughout the city benefit from a strong mining sector.”
“It’s important people can have their say on this job-creating project for the region.”
Whitehaven Coal Managing Director and CEO, Paul Flynn, welcomed the release of the EIS.
“Since acquiring Winchester South in 2018, our team has developed a detailed project design that capitalises on the site’s position in a well-established coal region,” Mr Flynn said.
“As our first development in Queensland, we’ve built productive relationships with the community, local council, the Barada Barna Aboriginal Corporation, government, and other stakeholders, all of whom have been critical to developing the proposal.”
“This project will support ongoing economic development in regional Queensland and importantly in the customer countries where the product will be used.”
“We encourage any interested parties to have a say as part of this public notification process.”
Submissions are open until 15 September and the finalised EIS will then be provided to the Queensland and Commonwealth Governments for examination.
The EIS is available on the Co-ordinator General’s Winchester South project page.