Mastermyne secures contract for Cook Colliery restart

Almost 200 contract workers lost their jobs when the Bowen Basin mine shut down. Now a major Mackay mining company has won a contract to restart operations.

A longwall at the Cook Colliery underground mine in Blackwater. Picture: Contributed

A Mackay mining company has secured a contract to restart operations at a mothballed underground mine in the Bowen Basin.

In a statement to the ASX, Mastermyne Group said Constellation Mining — a subsidiary of QCoal Group — chose it to run the Cook Colliery Mine at Blackwater in Central Queensland.

The metallurgical coal operation went into administration in 2019, just nine days before Christmas, leaving 170 workers jobless.

“The project will be restarted over two distinct phases with the first phase commencing immediately,” the ASX announcement states, adding Stage 1 was expected to be finished by late 2021.

“The Stage 1 works will see the company recommence the underground operations including bringing the operation out of care and maintenance and transitioning back into production.

“(It) will include recommissioning of underground infrastructure, overhauling of mining equipment, establishment of production panels and all other associated administrative and procurement works.”

Mastermyne CEO Tony Caruso said they were pleased to work with QCoal to restart the mine.

“QCoal is a very experienced and well-regarded mining organisation that is well known for developing high quality assets utilising both owner operated, and contractor operated models,” Mr Caruso said.

“Both organisations have carefully considered the mining conditions and are confidently progressing with this project using the right methodology and under the right contracting model which will result in a successful project for all parties.”

The ASX statement said the parties would negotiate a contract for Stage 2 underground operations and were confident the mine would “deliver constant results”.