Central Highlands Development Corporation Major Projects 2022-2023 snapshot
The Central Highlands Development Corporation has nearly 30 major projects in the works worth more than $3 billion. SEE THE FULL LIST HERE.
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The Central Highlands Development Corporation has nearly 30 major projects in the works for the Central Highlands Regional Council area.
These projects, with a total value of more than $3 billion and identified in the CHDC’s recently released Major Projects 2022-2023 snapshot, have either been recently completed, are being undertaken currently, or will be completed.
Key projects include the Boomer Range Windfarm, SwarmFarm Robotics Manufacturing, Allied Health Facility, Australian Robotic Tech Park, CQ Smart Cropping Centre, and First Five Years Early Childhood Education Centre.
The $2.8M allied health facility, which will be located at the GP Super Clinic in Emerald, is estimated to cost around $2.8 million and will likely be mentioned in the updated federal budget to be released later this month.
Central Highlands Healthcare Board chair Paul Bell understands the importance of this facility for the Central Highlands community.
“This will enable us to deliver more patient services and training locally,” Mr Bell said.
“The patient services will span across the spectrum – from speech therapy to mental health support – reducing the need for Highlanders to travel for care.
“Growing our health infrastructure strengthens the Central Highlands’ liveability for all ages, and that helps to sustain and grow our population.”
Central Highlands Development Corporation CEO Peter Dowling feels this snapshot of the region’s projects comes during a time of positive change for the Central Highlands Regional Council area.
“CHDC’s Resources and Innovation Forum is one of a string of events in recent weeks that have given the Central Highlands extreme exposure to key decision makers and influencers,” Mr Dowling said.
“The huge level of interest and participation from local business and industry made it patently clear that we’re actively striving to adapt to, and keep pace with, global economic change and opportunity.
“This progressive approach will only bolster investor and government confidence in our region.”
Construction has begun on the First Five Years Early Childhood Education Centre, which is expected to open in March or April 2023 and cater to 92 children.
“We have been so encouraged by the positive response and support from parents, carers and the community,” First 5 Years managing director Melissa Webster said.
“It reaffirms the strong demand we identified in our research and delights us that we can deliver such a needed service to the community.”
Recently completed projects
>> Crinum Mine Recommissioning: Sojitz Blue reopened Crinum underground mine in 2021. Combined with the Gregory open cut operation, production was lifted from 2 million tonnes per annum to 3.5 million.
>> $2.8M Emerald Community Kindergarten Expansion: Fifty new early childhood education places have been created through the Emerald Community Kindergarten Expansion. The facility incorporates inclusive design features enabling the kindergarten to offer more places for children with special needs
>> $5.8M Followmont Transport Depot: Transport and logistics company, Followmont opened its new 2,000 sqm depot in 2021. The expansion will enable Followmont to run refrigerated trucks to service the local horticultural industry.
>> $7.5M Marist College Extension: Completed in 2022, the Marist College Extension project included a new science building, administration extension and art precinct redevelopment.
>> Jellinbah East Mine Extension: Jellinbah has commenced the Central North mine extension, which extended mining activity to the east and expanded the area available for spoil dumping and topsoil placement to the west.
>> $12M Queensland Mines and Rescue Services Training Centre: Queensland Mines and Rescue completed construction of the world-class training centre in 2022. The centre includes training and equipment buildings, simulated underground mine with vertical rescue, and four-storey confined space and firefighting training facilities.
>> $13M CQ Inland Port: Located at the Yamala Enterpise Area (YEA), CQ Inlant Port is a rapidly developing industrial estate. Integral to the estate is an intermodal freight facility with direct access to the Capricorn Highway and main western rail line. Construction of the intermodal terminal and grain packing facility was completed in 2022.
Projects underway
>> $16.7M CQ Smart Cropping Centre: The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries is creating a world-class research hub for Queensland’s cropping sector at the former Emerald Agricultural College. The innovation flagship will bring together research, development and extension with the latest innovations in agtech and data sciences.
>> $10M JCU CQ Centre for Rural and Remote Health: James Cook University (JCU) will deliver expanded clinical placements for health and medical students and offer tertiary health education and training at the new CQ Centre for Rural and Remote Health. Courses will include nursing, pharmacy, occupational therapy, psychology (entry) and education.
>> $11M Emerald Hospital Upgrade: The Emerald Hospital is set to receive a major upgrade to its theatre service and emergency department.
>> $2.8M Allied Health Facility: A new allied health facility in Emerald will reduce the need for patients to fly to Brisbane for treatment. The clinic will be an extension of the GP Super Clinic, and will include practice rooms, a measurement and assessment room and dedicated training facilities.
>> $5M First 5 Years Childcare Centre: Construction is expected to commence by late 2022 on First 5 Years’ uniquely designed childcare facility. The centre will cater for 92 children from 6 weeks to school age.
>> $9.4M Emerald State High School Extension: Construction of a new bus interchange was completed in 2022. Further developments currently in planning include a trade training centre, additional learning spaces and administration upgrade.
>> $4.4M Ivy Anderson Village: Construction has commenced on the Ivy Anderson aged care facility in Springsure. Eight independent living units will provide a space for older people transitioning from their own home to a traditional aged care facility. The village will also include a recreation room, commercial kitchen and caretaker’s residence.
>> $134M Queensland Beef Corridors: More than 150 kilometres of key beef transport corridors across the Central Highlands will be sealed through the Beef Corridors campaign. The investment will eliminate road disruption and the added logistical costs substandard roads create.
>> SwarmFarm Robotics Manufacturing: SwarmFarm Robotics, a pioneer of autonomous farming machinery, is constructing a new manufacturing and office space.
>> $12M Yamala Enterprise Area Feeder Road: Bonnie Doon Road, a major feeder road to the YEA, will be sealed, creating efficient connection to the agricultural and mining sectors in the southern end of the Central Highlands region.
>> $20M Blackwater Multipurpose Health Service Redevelopment: The Blackwater Hospital will undergo a major redevelopment, including a new emergency department, aged care units, palliative care beds and relocation of the helicopter pad and emergency entry
In the pipeline
>> $75M Australian Robotic Tech Park: Robotics Australia Group is proposing to develop a Robotics Tech Park in Emerald to help Australian robotic companies grow, design and test their technology. The facility will take advantage of a brownfield site at the former Emerald Agricultural College and comprise a field testing and demonstration area and an innovation precinct.
Project Status: The project is currently seeking federal and state funding.
>> Gregory Crinum M-Block Extension: Gregory Crinum is proposing to move mining to M-Block, an area west of the existing mining area. Open cut methods will be used for the first three years before going underground. The extension will extend operations for up to 20 years.
>> Kestrel West Mine Extension: Kestrel has commenced a Feasibility Definition Study of Kestrel West, an area contained on the existing lease. The project will extend the life of the mine to 2049.
Project Status: Based on the results of the Feasibility Definition Study, Kestrel will prepare approvals and development options.
>> $1.5B Valeria Coal Project: Glencore’s Valeria Coal project is an open cut greenfield metallurgical and thermal coal mine development. The project is estimated to produce 20 million tonnes of coal product per annum over its 35 year mine life. It is expected to create 1400 construction jobs and 1250 operational jobs.
Project Status: The project is currently undergoing State and Commonwealth assessment processes. The Terms of Reference are expected to be completed this year, the Environmental Impact Statement in 2023 and project determination in 2024. Depending on the outcome of these processes, construction could begin as early as 2025 and operations in late 2027.
>> $160M Iona Agricultural Precinct: The precinct proposes to encompass a feedlot, beef processing plant, power generation, by-products facility and a bio nutrient fertiliser plant.
Project Status: The project is currently seeking funding.
>> $250M Wilton Fairhill Project: Wilton Fairhill is an open cut greenfield metallurgical coal project owned by Futura Resources. Production is expected to be 2.5 million tonnes per annum over its 20 year mine life. The operation will utilise nearby infrastructure, such as that of the Gregory Crinum complex, to process and rail product coal.
Project Status: Final environmental approvals have been received and the project is awaiting the final investment decision to progress to mining lease grant.
>> Ensham Life of Mine Extension: Ensham’s Life of Mine extension proposes to move the underground mining operations to the west. The project will support the existing operational workforce (600) and extend the mine life to 2037.
Project Status: The project is waiting on approvals due in the third quarter of 2022, and 2024.
>> Boomer Range Wind Farm: Renewable energy company Epuron is investigating the feasibility of a new large scale wind farm, to be located in the Central Queensland Renewable Energy Zone.
Project Status: The project is undergoing site selection, initial concept and preliminary investigations.
>> Yamala Enterprise Area Water Pipeline: The supply of water is critical for the development of the YEA industrial precinct. Stage 1 of the project will involve the construction of 20 kilometres of pipeline from the Nogoa River (Sunwater’s Nogoa Mackenzie Scheme) to site.
Project Status: The project is currently seeking Federal and State funding.
>> $1B Blackwater South Coking Coal Project:
BMA is proposing to develop a new metallurgical coal mine, Blackwater South Coking Coal project, located adjacent to the existing Blackwater mine. It has an anticipated mine life of 90 years. Up to 750 construction jobs are expected to be created by the project, and 1200 operational jobs.
Project Status: The project has commenced the external approval processes and was identified as a Queensland Government Coordinated Project in 2022. Pending approvals, construction could commence in 2029.
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