Arcturus Coal Mine Project (lapsed)

Project summary

Springsure Creek Coal Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of Bandanna Energy, proposes to develop the Arcturus Coal Mine located approximately 40 km south of Emerald and 60 km south-west of Blackwater. The project would involve the operation of an open cut and underground mine and associated infrastructure. The mine would extract five million tonnes per annum of run-of-mine (ROM) coal over a period of 30 years. The relevant mining tenure is a granted Exploration Permit for Coal (EPC) 1221.

The open cut mining method would involve strip mining operations with waste removal by truck-excavator with dozer assist. Coal would be mined by loaders or excavators into dump trucks and hauled up traditional spoil side ramps to the ROM crushing and handling facility. The final open cut strip will provide access for the underground operations.

The project would be located on land currently used for grazing and cropping. On 31 May 2011 the Queensland Government announced its intention to introduce legislation later in the year to protect strategic cropping land. More information about the strategic cropping land framework is available from the Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy.

Underground mine operations would use underground longwall operations or bord and pillar methods. Coal would be delivered to the surface via conveyor and then transferred to a raw coal stock pile. The proponent has, at this stage, determined that the ROM coal from both the open cut and underground mine components would be subject to simple crushing and screening process and delivered to the market as raw product.

Product coal would be transported to a proposed train loading facility connected to the existing Rolleston rail line using a new balloon loop and rail spur. From there the coal would be taken to the Wiggins Island Export Coal Terminal via the Blackwater-Gladstone rail line.

It is anticipated that the project would involve significant associated civil works, including:

• a new rail load out facility
• coal handling and processing plant
• water supply infrastructure
• power supply infrastructure
• run of mine and product coal stockpile
• waste disposal facility
• support infrastructure such as administration building, fuel/chemical storages and access roads.

Employees would be accommodated in nearby towns of Springsure and Emerald. The project would require 300 employees during construction and 150 employees during operation.

Environmental Protection Act 1994 (Queensland)

On 2 December 2010, an application was made by the proponent under section 71 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994 for the preparation of a voluntary environmental impact statement (EIS). The application was approved on 17 December 2010.

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Commonwealth)

On 21 March 2011, the Commonwealth Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (SEWPaC) determined the Arcturus Coal Mine Project to be a controlled action under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). The controlling provisions are sections 18 and 18A (listed threatened species and communities) and sections 20 and 20A (listed migratory species). However, the State’s EIS process will not be used to assess the project under the bilateral agreement between the Commonwealth of Australia and the State of Queensland relating to environmental assessment. SEWPaC will conduct its own EIS process under the EPBC Act.