Gladstone New Fuels Development Project Stage 2A (withdrawn)
Project summary
The project was being assessed by a voluntary environmental impact statement (EIS) under Part 1 of Chapter 3 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994. The terms of reference were finalised and issued to the proponent on 23 December 2014. Section 47 of the EP Act then gave the proponent up to two years to prepare and submit an EIS for the project based on those TOR. On 14 December 2016, the proponent requested, and was granted, an extension of one year to submit the EIS until 23 December 2017. However, an EIS was not submitted during this time. Consequently, the terms of reference for the EIS have lapsed.
Queensland Energy Resources (Aussun) Pty Ltd, Queensland Energy Resources (No.1) (Stuart) Pty Ltd, and Queensland Energy Resources (No.2) (Stuart) Pty Ltd (the proponents) had proposed to develop the Gladstone New Fuels Development Project Stage 2A within an area of approximately 527 hectares covered by existing mining lease ML80003. The project area would have been located approximately 15 kilometres north-west of Gladstone. The project would have produced up to 3 million barrels per annum of ultra-low sulphur diesel and other oil products.
Queensland environmental impact statement (EIS) process
Environmental Protection Act 1994 (Queensland)
On 22 August 2014, the proponent applied for a voluntary environmental impact statement (EIS) process to support an amendment of an existing environmental authority (EPML00658213) for oil shale mining and processing operations at the existing New Fuels Development Centre within ML80003.
The department granted approval for a voluntary EIS on 5 September 2014.
Commonwealth assessment process
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Commonwealth)
On 10 June 2014 the proposed project was referred to the Australian Government’s Department of the Environment (EPBC 2014/7241). On 8 July 2014, the Department of the Environment determined the proposed project to be a controlled action under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. The controlling provisions are sections 12 and 15A (world heritage properties), sections 15B and 15C (national heritage places), sections 18 and 18A (listed threatened species and communities), 20 and 20A (listed migratory species) and 24B and 24C (Great Barrier Reef Marine Park). The project would have been assessed under the bilateral agreement between the Commonwealth and the State of Queensland using the EIS prepared under the EP Act.
Documents
- Final terms of reference (December 2014)
- Draft terms of reference (October 2014)
- Initial advice statement describing the project (October 2014)
Further information
For further information regarding the EIS process for this proposal, contact the EIS Coordinator on 13QGOV (13 74 68) or email eis@des.qld.gov.au.