Carborough Downs mine expansion project
The EIS process for this project has now concluded.
Project summary
The Carborough Downs Joint Venture (CDJV) proposed to expand the existing Carborough Downs Mine. The proponent's application to voluntarily prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the project was accepted by the department on 11 July 2006. The department managed the EIS process as set out in Chapter 3 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994 (EP Act).
The Carborough Downs Mine is an existing underground coal mine located in Central Queensland approximately 15 km east of the township of Moranbah along the Peak Downs Highway and 150 km south west of Mackay.
The existing mine has an approved production rate of 1.9 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) run of mine (ROM) coal. CDJV proposed to increase the rate of mining to approximately 5 Mtpa ROM and extend the current mining leases ML70340 to the north-east and ML70339 to the south. The proposed expansion areas are located within an existing mineral development lease, MDL354.
Mining at Carborough Downs is currently undertaken using the "cut and flit" method, in which pillars of coal are retained between the roadways. The planned increase in production would be achieved either through a continuation of the existing method using additional continuous miners or, subject to further evaluation, through the introduction of the longwall mining method.
On the surface, the coal handling and preparation plant (CHPP) was to be duplicated adjacent to the existing facility, and the number of product stockpiles would increase from four to six. The necessity or otherwise of increasing the footprint of the currently approved co-disposal area for coarse and fine waste from the CHPP was addressed during the EIS.
The EIS assessment report was issued to the proponent in July 2007, completing the EIS process under Chapter 3, Part 1 of the EP Act.
Documents
- EIS assessment report (July 2007)
- Final terms of reference (November 2006)
- Draft terms of reference (August 2006)
- Initial advice statement describing the project (August 2006)
Further information
For further information about the EIS process for the Carborough Downs mine expansion project, contact the EIS Coordinator on 13QGOV (13 74 68) or email eis@detsi.qld.gov.au