Foxleigh Plains project
Project summary
The proponent for the Foxleigh Plains Project is a joint venture between: Anglo Coal (Foxleigh) Pty Ltd (30%); CAML Resources Pty Ltd (60%); and Nippon Steel Australia Pty Ltd (10%).
The project would involve the expansion of the existing Foxleigh open-cut coal mine to increase the life of the existing mine by up to 15 years and produce up to 3.2 million tonnes per year of pulverised coal injection coal for the steelmaking industry.
The project is located approximately six kilometres south of Middlemount within the central region of the Bowen Basin in Central Queensland. The project site is comprised of three mining lease application (MLA) areas; MLA 70429, MLA 70430 and ML70431 and is adjacent to the existing Foxleigh mine (ML70171 and ML70309). The expansion would include additional truck and shovel plant and equipment and 90 additional full-time employees.
Run of mine coal would be hauled by truck to the existing Foxleigh mine coal handling and processing plant (CHPP). No upgrade of the CHPP would be required. Coarse coal rejects from the CHPP would be placed in overburden emplacement areas, tailings would be deposited in residual mine voids within the existing mine site. Product coal would be transported by train to Dalrymple Bay Coal terminal for export.
Queensland assessment process
On 8 March 2010 the proponent applied to prepare a voluntary environmental impact statement (EIS) under the Environmental Protection Act 1994 (EP Act) for the project. That application was approved on 8 March 2010, commencing the EIS process.
An EIS assessment report has been prepared for the project. The key findings of that report were that the project would:
- cover approximately 3900ha of predominantly grazing land
- clear over approximately 2166ha of vegetation
- divert approximately 4.5km of Cockatoo Creek, including the removal of 50ha of riparian vegetation.
After rehabilitation the site land use will remain suitable for grazing except for areas such as final voids, diversions, levees, and landform slopes which will all be unsuitable for pastoral activities. Four hundred and thirty hectares of good quality agricultural land will be lost.
The department was satisfied that the EIS provided enough information and environmental management commitments to ensure there would not be unacceptable environmental impacts from the mine. Consequently a decision was made that the project could proceed to the approvals stage, subject to finalisation of outstanding information and the imposition of conditions including the management and monitoring of surface water and groundwater quality, air, noise and waste and the rehabilitation of mined areas.
The EIS assessment report was give to the proponent on 2 July 2013, completing the EIS process under Chapter 3, Part 1 of the EP Act.
Before the project can proceed, the proponent will need to apply for and obtain an environmental authority for the project under the EP Act.
The status of the EIS process for this project is:
- Submission of draft TOR
- Public notification of draft TOR
- Final TOR issued—EIS in preparation
- Public notification of EIS
- Proponent responds to submissions
- EIS assessment report
Commonwealth assessment process
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Commonwealth)
The project is a controlled action under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). The controlling provisions are sections 18 and 18A (Listed threatened species and communities). The State’s EIS process has been accredited for the assessment under Part 8 of the EPBC Act in accordance with the Bilateral Agreement between the Commonwealth of Australia and the State of Queensland (2012). The EIS assessment report includes an assessment of the significance of impacts on the controlling provisions. A copy of the EIS assessment report has been given to the Commonwealth Environment Minister, who will make a separate decision about the controlled action under Part 9 of the EPBC Act.
Further information
Copies of publicly available documents can be obtained by accessing the links below:
For further information regarding the EIS process for this proposal, please contact the EIS coordinator or email eis@des.qld.gov.au.