Have your say on Red Hill mining project

The public has been invited to comment on the expansion of existing mines and a potential future underground operation 20 kilometres north of Moranbah in the Bowen Basin.

Jeff Seeney, Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning said the Queensland Coordinator General will release for public comment an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Red Hill Mining Lease project.

“The release of this report represents the next step in the process for this mining project which, if ultimately approved by the Coordinator General and the Commonwealth Government, has the potential to create approximately 2000 jobs in its construction phase and 1500 operational jobs,” Mr Seeney said.

“BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) has applied for the grant of the Red Hill Mining Lease to allow for an extension of three long-wall panels of the Broadmeadow underground mine and a future incremental expansion of the Goonyella Riverside Mine (GRM).

“The proposal will also allow for the future Red Hill underground expansion option, located to the east of the GRM complex, which has the potential to deliver up to 14 million tonnes of coking coal per annum.”

Mr Seeney said after the public comment period, the Coordinator General would thoroughly review the EIS and other information.

The EIS covers Commonwealth matters of national environmental significance as well as Queensland matters, following the Bilateral Assessment process.

The consultation period will commence on 16 December 2013 and all submissions must be completed and delivered to the Coordinator-General’s office by 5pm on 13 February 2014.

The EIS, a fact sheet explaining how to make a submission and the submission form are available online at www.dsdip.qld.gov.au/redhill

Printed copies can be viewed at:

• Moranbah Library, Grosvenor Complex, Batchelor Parade, Moranbah
• Mackay City Library, Civic Precinct, Gordon Street, Mackay
• National Library of Australia, Parkes Place, Canberra
• State Library of Queensland, Cultural Centre, Stanley Place, South Bank, Brisbane.

 [ENDS] 13 December 2013

Media Contact: Jane Paterson 0417 281 754 or Elizabeth Spry 0418 928 744