Whitehaven coal
About the project
Our first investment in Queensland
The undeveloped coal project is located 30km south-east of Moranbah, in Queensland’s well-established Bowen Basin.
Winchester South is our first investment in Queensland’s coal industry and will entail nearly $1 billion in capital expenditure to bring the project into production by 2023.
The Project is subject to the Queensland Government’s comprehensive mine approvals process. If approved it will involve the construction of a new open-cut coal mine in an established coal basin, a coal processing plant and a rail loop to connect with the existing Bowen Basin coal rail network. At full capacity the mine is targeting run-of-mine (ROM) production of 15 million tonnes per annum of predominantly high quality coking coal, providing a boost to local communities and returning millions in royalties to the Queensland economy each year.
The high-quality, large scale project is well-placed to key infrastructure with rail running through the tenement and potential to access three key port terminals.
$1bn
investment
450
operational jobs
500
construction jobs
Local engagement
Working with the community
It is our responsibility and commitment to ensure the Winchester South Project meets all required mining and environmental approvals.
This includes ensuring our project and our approach align with local community expectations. We do this through meaningful and transparent dialogue with stakeholders, and listening to, and understanding, any concerns and issues as they arise.
Consultation and engagement has commenced with an initial focus on State Government regulatory, consent and coordination authorities, local landowners, the Barada Barna Aboriginal Corporation, neighbouring mine owners and relevant infrastructure and service providers. We’ll continue to work with a growing cross-section of groups and individuals, using a variety of tools and approaches, as the project progresses.
Local jobs
Prioritising local employment
As an Australian company, we have a proud history of prioritising jobs for local communities.
It is expected the mine will deliver 500 jobs during construction and around 450 operational jobs, providing a significant boost to local communities. Over our more than two decades of operation in the Gunnedah Basin in NSW, Whitehaven has never supported a FIFO workforce, and currently around 75% of our workforce lives in the communities around our NSW operations. This is an approach we’ll seek to continue at Winchester South.
Location
Assessment process
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Application
Whitehaven lodges:
• Initial Advice Statement (IAS) as part of the application for declaration as a Coordinated Project.
• Application with the Department of Environment and Science (DES) for an Environmental Authority.
• Referral to the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (DAWE). -
Terms of Reference
Coordinator-General releases draft Terms of Reference for review by the public and State and Federal agencies, including DES and DAWE. The Coordinator-General considers submissions and finalises the Terms of Reference.
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Draft Environmental Impact Statement
Whitehaven prepares a draft EIS to address the Terms of Reference and requirements of the SDPWO Act and EPBC Act.
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Submission
Whitehaven submits the draft EIS for assessment.
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Review
Coordinator-General reviews draft EIS and prepares for public exhibition.
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Public Exhibition
Draft EIS placed on public exhibition. The public and State and Federal agencies review EIS.
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Evaluation
Coordinator-General requests additional information (if required) and releases evaluation report. If the Project is approved, the evaluation report includes approval conditions.
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Environmental Authority
DES issues an Environmental Authority consistent with the Coordinator-General’s approval conditions.
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Commonwealth Determination
DAWE considers the Coordinator-General’s Evaluation Report and provides a determination of the Project. If approved, DAWE imposes additional conditions.
Timeline
FY18
FY19
First coal resources declared
FY19