READY TO ROCK

ADANI SETS START DATE FOR MEGAMINE CONSTRUCTION

UP TO 1500 employees will start to flood into Adani’s Carmichael coal mine project by mid- 2018 after the Indian conglomerate yesterday announced construction on the site would start within two months.

The first shipment of coal is expected to be made by March 2020.

The miner has cleared all but one indigenous land use dispute, with the Wangan & Jagalingou People case still subject to court appeal by activist Adrian Burragubba, which is scheduled to be held in March 2018.

Adani spokesman Ron Watson said October was when the “heavy lifting” would start.

UP to 1500 employees will be working on stage 1 of Adani’s Carmichael coal mine by mid- 2018 after the Indian conglomerate announced construction would start in October.

The first shipment of coal is expected to be made by March 2020.

The miner has cleared all but one Indigenous Land Use Agreement, with the Wangan & Jagalingou People case subject to an appeal by activist Adrian Burragubba, scheduled to be heard in March 2018.

Adani spokesman Ron Watson yesterday said October was when the “heavy lifting” would start.

“This includes the rail line, the airport, some access roads and the update of the mining camp … and the construction put in place for the camps that will be used for rail construction crews,” he said.

Charters Towers company GA Services has also been chosen to refurbish Adani’s existing exploration camp.

A decision on where Adani’s fly- in, fly- out worker hub will be based is expected to be made within the next month, with Townsville and Rockhampton vying to be selected.

Mr Watson said he could not comment on suggestions the workers would be split 50- 50 between the two cities.

“Once we’ve got the airport, then we need FIFO,” Mr Watson said.

“In terms of the headquarters in Townsville – ( employment) is continuing to ramp up and the work will require some of them to move out and go on site. But there will still be a sizeable workforce in Townsville.

“About 150 ( workers) will start on site, which we’re still employing for, then we will start ramping up … by the middle of next year.”

Mr Watson said while there was one land use agreement to be finalised, Adani would still start construction on the rail line.

“The strategy at this stage is to start construction of the line, which is scheduled to take 2 ½ years, and we will build up to the boundary of Wangan & Jagalingou People,” he said.

“We have sufficient funding to start the construction of all of these works and we’re waiting to finalise financial close funding which involves Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility.”

GA Services director Dean Bowditch said winning the mine camp contract was a great achievement for the Charters Towers- based company, which has worked in the Galilee Basin for 12 years.

“About 11 or 12 staff will be based there ( at the mine) at any one period when we start,” he said.

“It is a great achievement for us as a company but also for us to employ local people.”

Mayor Jenny Hill said Townsville City Council was still in talks with Adani over the location of its flyin, fly- out worker hub.

“The interest of the ratepayers is paramount to those discussions,” she said.

“By any fair assessment Townsville offers the best employee option.”

The Bulletin understands that financial closure is still expected to be achieved by December this year.