Up to 450 jobs in the pipeline for coal project

MORETON Resources, the company responsible for the South Burnett Coal Project, is working through its environmental approvals for a 1700 ha underground thermal coal mine 25km south of Wandoan.

In a report lodged with the Federal Government, the company said it intended to transport the coal along the existing Wandoan branch rail corridor for export from Gladstone, and estimates the project will get underway in January 2020.

Glencore, which has been approved for a massive $7 billion open cut coal mine west of Wandoan late last year, also has approval to build a rail line to Gladstone.

The MRV Surat Basin Coal mine would use longwall or board and pillar methods to extract the coal, at a rate of 6.5 megatonnes per annum.

Construction of the mine and infrastructure would require up to 400 people at peak periods, and operations would require a workforce of up to 450 works, which the company said would comprise workers from the Miles and Wandoan areas.

Earlier this week, the State Government granted gas company Central Petroleum authority to prospect a lease for domestic gas use that overlaps Moreton Resources’ Mineral Development Lease.

As part of the federal environmental approvals process, the public can have their say on the project up until March 16.