Have your say on the China Stone Coal Project

The public has been invited to have their say on the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on a proposal to establish a new thermal coal mine in the northern Galilee Basin.

Minister for State Development Dr Anthony Lynham said the China Stone Coal project proposed by MacMines Austasia Pty Ltd would provide up to 3900 jobs during the proposed two-year construction phase and up to 3400 operational positions. The project’s capital expenditure would be about $6.7 billion.

“This is a significant milestone for this project, which is an important contributor to the ongoing development of the Galilee Basin,” Dr Lynham said sustainable development of business and industry in this state,” he said.

“The site is located approximately 300 km west of Mackay, north of and adjacent to the proposed Carmichael Coal mine in Central Queensland.

“The China Stone Coal project involves the construction and operation of a greenfield open-pit and underground thermal coal mine within a 20,000 hectare mining lease area.

“The project could realise significant economic and social benefits on a regional, state and national scale with the capacity to produce up to 38 million tonnes per annum of product coal.

“Once operational, the mine is estimated to contribute $5.9 billion to the Queensland and Australian revenue through coal royalties over the 50 year life of the mine.”

“I welcome MacMines’ commitment to progressing this project and to the contribution they are making directly to the economic development of Queensland,” he said.

The Coordinator-General has released the draft EIS for public comment.

You can view the draft EIS at www.statedevelopment.qld.gov.au/chinastone

You can make a submission from Monday, 27 July 2015 to 5pm on 7 September 2015 at:

https://haveyoursay.dsd.qld.gov.au/coordinatorgeneral/chinastone.

The draft EIS will also be available to view at:

• Charters Towers Excelsior Library, 130 Gill Street, Charters Towers
• Clermont Library, corner of Karmoo and Herschel Streets, Clermont
• Moranbah Library, Grosvenor Complex, Batchelor Parade, Town Square, Moranbah
• National Library of Australia, Parkes Place, Canberra, ACT
• State Library of Queensland, Cultural Centre, Stanley Place, South Bank, Brisbane.

Ends              

24 July 2015

Media Contact: Jan Martin 0439 341 314

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