Hundreds of jobs secured as New Burton Coal Mine officially reopened

• Hundreds of regional Queensland coal jobs have been secured with the reopening of the New Burton Mine, south of Mackay.  
• Argo Natural Resources has restarted operations at coal mine since acquiring Bowen Coking Coal.
• Argo's investment in Queensland's resources sector was secured through discussions on Premier's Trade Mission to Japan.
• The official reopening of the mine is a major vote of confidence in Queensland’s coal industry under the Crisafulli Government. 
• The Crisafulli Government is delivering more jobs and better services through a stronger economy, after Labor’s anti-mining policies shunned investment in Queensland. 

The Crisafulli Government’s open for business approach is delivering for Queensland’s mining sector, with Argo Natural Resources restarting mining operations at the New Burton Coal Mine, 120 kilometres south of Mackay. 

The official reopening of the mine today secures the long-term future of 275 workers and is a major tick of approval of Queensland’s coal industry under the Crisafulli Government. 

Argo’s investment into the Queensland resources sector was secured through discussions on the Premier’s trade mission to Japan and follows the Crisafulli Government’s restoration of regulatory and taxation certainty for the sector.  

In total the consortium has now invested in four mines, with Broadlea, Carborough Downs and Ironbank, in addition to the New Burton mine.  

Argo’s investment in Queensland coal assets under the Crisafulli Government has secured the future of approximately 1250 employees, contractors and suppliers across the four mine sites.  

Argo’s 100% acquisition of Bowen Coking Coal from administrators on 30 June 2026 has the mine aimed for steady-state production in the first quarter of 2027. 

The company is targeting annual production at the New Burton Mine of 2.5-3 million tonnes of product coal into the market. 

The Crisafulli Government is delivering more jobs and better services through a stronger economy and backing Queensland’s world-class coal industry, after Labor’s anti-mining policies stymied investment and risked thousands of regional jobs. 

Premier David Crisafulli said the reopening of the New Burton Mine was a strong endorsement of the Government’s approach to restore investment certainty. 

“We’ve restored stability for mining in Queensland, allowing the sector to plan and invest with confidence, which is delivering more jobs and a stronger economy,” Premier Crisafulli said. 

“This is a stamp of approval for Queensland’s coal industry and protects the livelihoods of hundreds of workers who can continue to live and work in Central Queensland. 

“Argo’s major investment in Queensland coal assets was set in stone following our trade mission last year, and we will continue to pull every lever to secure future investment into our world-class resources sector.”