Winchester South Project – Whitehaven Coal

About the project
Local benefits
Impact assessment
Location
Regulatory documents
Assessment process
Suppliers – register your interest
Timeline
Contacts

Our first development 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.
If approved it will involve the construction of a new open-cut coal mine, 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 up to 17 million tonnes per annum of coal to supply the international market for about 30 years. Winchester South will produce a primary metallurgical coal product for the steel industry and a secondary thermal coal product for energy generation.

As it is located in a well-established coal region, the site has direct access to key rail and port infrastructure, providing multiple coal export options.

Key benefits

$1bn

investment

500

jobs during construction and operations

Metallurgical coal for steelmaking and thermal coal for energy generation

$756m

additional net economic benefit to QLD (NPV terms)

30 year
mine life

supplying international markets

$4.9bn

to QLD suppliers (NPV terms)

$563m

in royalties to the QLD Government (NPV terms)

$202m

in additional wages into the community (NPV terms)

Comprehensively
studying the impacts

The project has been declared a Coordinated Project by the Government, recognising the potential strategic significance the project will bring locally, regionally and, more broadly, to the state of Queensland.

As part of the comprehensive State and Federal Government assessment process, we’ve carefully studied potential impacts, seeking and incorporating feedback from a wide range of stakeholders.

The results of these studies are outlined in the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), which includes a proposed design that seeks to avoid, minimise or offset environmental and other impacts. The EIS also outlines the potential environmental and socio-economic impacts and the prospective benefits. Read the full EIS here.

READ THE FULL EIS

Respecting the
local environment

The project will meet the strict environmental guidelines set out by the Queensland and Federal Governments. We’ve worked to identify and minimise environmental impacts, and key features include:

The project will have minimal impacts to air quality, noise and water quality and supply to surrounding landowners
No impact on nearby strategic cropping areas
We will rehabilitate the land progressively as we mine, and after mining, there will be no residual voids in the Isaac River floodplain
The area will be rehabilitated for agricultural use
Biodiversity impacts would be offset in accordance with government guidelines.

Read the full EIS

Working with
the community

We’ve worked closely with a range of stakeholders to ensure the project and our approach align with local community expectations, including State Government regulatory, consent and coordination authorities, local landowners, the Barada Barna Aboriginal Corporation, neighbouring mine owners and relevant infrastructure and service providers.

Importantly, our first local agreement was the Cultural Heritage Management Plan with the Barada Barna People, which outlines how we will work together to manage cultural heritage artefacts or sites located within the project area.

As outlined in the EIS, the project will provide a boost to local communities and return millions in royalties to the Queensland economy each year. We are also making significant financial and community commitments, including to build new houses in Moranbah to support the growing local workforce.

Prioritising local employment

As an Australian company, and over our more than two decades of operation in the Gunnedah Basin in NSW, we have a proud history of prioritising jobs for local communities.

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.

We also seek to empower local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and will seek to maximise ATSI employment at Winchester South.

Location

Regional location

Project location

Resources and Reserves

In December 2020, Whitehaven released its Reserves Statement and updated its Coal Resources for the Winchester South Project in accordance with the JORC Code (2012).

The Project has JORC Resources of 1,100Mt and JORC Reserves of 350Mt.

LEARN MORE

Assessment process

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.
Draft Environmental Impact Statement

Whitehaven prepares a draft EIS to address the Terms of Reference and requirements of the SDPWO Act and EPBC Act.
Submission

Whitehaven submits the draft EIS for assessment.
Review

Coordinator-General reviews draft EIS and prepares for public exhibition.
Public Notification

Draft EIS placed on public notification. The public and State and Federal agencies review EIS.
Evaluation

Coordinator-General requests additional information (if required) and releases evaluation report. If the Project is approved, the evaluation report includes approval conditions.
Environmental Authority and Mining Lease

DES issues an Environmental Authority and Department of Resources (DOR) issues Mining Lease(s) consistent with the Coordinator-General’s approval conditions.
Commonwealth Determination

DAWE considers the Coordinator-General’s Evaluation Report and provides a determination of the Project. If approved, DAWE imposes additional conditions.

Register your interest

If you’re interested in supplying goods or services to Whitehaven Coal, please complete the following form.

Register

Timeline

FY18

Winchester South acquired from Rio Tinto Coal Australia (75%) and Scentre Group (25%)

FY19

First JORC Coal Resources declared

FY19

Winchester South declared a Coordinated Project by QLD Government

FY21

Maiden JORC Coal Reserves declared and Coal Resources updated

FY22

Draft EIS public consultation

Contacts