LNP acts on three major projects
Published Wednesday, 11 April, 2012 at 06:02 PM
Deputy Premier, Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning
The Honourable Jeff Seeney
Three major projects with wide economic benefits for the State have moved closer to reality under the LNP Government.
Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development Jeff Seeney announced today the Co-ordinator General Barry Broe had approved two projects to proceed and released the environmental impact statement for a third.
Plans to expand Pacific National’s freight terminal in Townsville and a change to the rail route to service BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance’s Caval Ridge Coal Mine have received approval to proceed while the EIS for the Nathan Dam has been released for public comment.
Mr Seeney said the LNP had promised to drive economic growth and to focus the Coordinator General’s office on delivering major projects.
“We will deliver on our commitments to get the state back on track economically,” he said.
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.
Expansion of the terminal at Hunter Street, Stuart will enable Pacific National to fulfil its contractual arrangements.
Additional facilities for maintaining locomotives and wagons will be provided along with the extension of maintenance tracks and connection to the existing main track.
The Coordinator General said the expansion was compatible with existing and future development in the area.
The change in rail route for BMA’s Caval Ridge mine near Moranbah provides a shorter, more direct route.
It will also reduce noise impacts with the new alignment four kilometres away from the nearest housing.
Stringent conditions on dust control, noise and traffic that applied to the original route on BMA’s mining lease have been expanded to apply to the realigned rail spur.
Caval Ridge is expected to produce up to 5.5 million tonnes of coking coal annually for export markets.
The Nathan Dam EIS will be open for public comment from April 21 for six weeks.
It outlines the detailed environmental, social, economic and engineering investigations that must be undertaken before the dam can be built.
The EIS recognises the complexity of the project, the substantial benefits it could bring and the need to carefully assess its environmental impacts and how they could be mitigated if the project was approved to proceed.
The proposed dam is located on the Dawson River about 35 kilometres north-east of Taroom near Nathan Gorge.
Mr Seeney said the dam would have a capacity of 888,312 megalitres and provide increased water security.
“It would unlock the potential of the “Surat and Bowen basins and facilitate growth in the resources sector.
“Additionally it would help delivery further urban and industrial growth in the region which encompasses the Lower Fitzroy and Gladstone areas.
“The project could create 425 jobs during its construction.”
The Nathan Dam EIS can be viewed online at: http://www.deedi.gov.au/cg/nathan-dam-and-pipelines.html
It will be on public display from 23 April until 12 June 2012 at: The Queensland State Library, Dalby-Wambo Library, Chinchilla Library, Wandoan Library, Taroom Library, Theodore Library and Miles Library. (Opening times of these locations may vary).
Media Contact: John Wiseman – 0409 791 281
Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development Jeff Seeney announced today the Co-ordinator General Barry Broe had approved two projects to proceed and released the environmental impact statement for a third.
Plans to expand Pacific National’s freight terminal in Townsville and a change to the rail route to service BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance’s Caval Ridge Coal Mine have received approval to proceed while the EIS for the Nathan Dam has been released for public comment.
Mr Seeney said the LNP had promised to drive economic growth and to focus the Coordinator General’s office on delivering major projects.
“We will deliver on our commitments to get the state back on track economically,” he said.
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.
Expansion of the terminal at Hunter Street, Stuart will enable Pacific National to fulfil its contractual arrangements.
Additional facilities for maintaining locomotives and wagons will be provided along with the extension of maintenance tracks and connection to the existing main track.
The Coordinator General said the expansion was compatible with existing and future development in the area.
The change in rail route for BMA’s Caval Ridge mine near Moranbah provides a shorter, more direct route.
It will also reduce noise impacts with the new alignment four kilometres away from the nearest housing.
Stringent conditions on dust control, noise and traffic that applied to the original route on BMA’s mining lease have been expanded to apply to the realigned rail spur.
Caval Ridge is expected to produce up to 5.5 million tonnes of coking coal annually for export markets.
The Nathan Dam EIS will be open for public comment from April 21 for six weeks.
It outlines the detailed environmental, social, economic and engineering investigations that must be undertaken before the dam can be built.
The EIS recognises the complexity of the project, the substantial benefits it could bring and the need to carefully assess its environmental impacts and how they could be mitigated if the project was approved to proceed.
The proposed dam is located on the Dawson River about 35 kilometres north-east of Taroom near Nathan Gorge.
Mr Seeney said the dam would have a capacity of 888,312 megalitres and provide increased water security.
“It would unlock the potential of the “Surat and Bowen basins and facilitate growth in the resources sector.
“Additionally it would help delivery further urban and industrial growth in the region which encompasses the Lower Fitzroy and Gladstone areas.
“The project could create 425 jobs during its construction.”
The Nathan Dam EIS can be viewed online at: http://www.deedi.gov.au/cg/nathan-dam-and-pipelines.html
It will be on public display from 23 April until 12 June 2012 at: The Queensland State Library, Dalby-Wambo Library, Chinchilla Library, Wandoan Library, Taroom Library, Theodore Library and Miles Library. (Opening times of these locations may vary).
Media Contact: John Wiseman – 0409 791 281