Winchester South reaches major milestone

The proposed $1 billion Winchester South mine near Moranbah has reached a major milestone.

THE proposed $1billion Winchester South mine has reached a major milestone with the release of draft terms of reference for the project's environmental impact statement by Queensland's independent Coordinator-General.

State Development Minister Cameron Dick said the public would have from June24 until July19 to have their say on the Bowen Basin project and whether the draft terms of reference adequately covered all matters relating to its EIS.

Winchester South, proposed for a location 30km southeast of Moranbah, is expected to provide 500 jobs during the two-year construction phase and 450 ongoing jobs once the mine is up and running.

It would produce up to eight million tonnes of coal annually for about 30 years.

"Winchester South Coal Operations is proposing a metallurgical coal mine to support steel-making, which would create more jobs in central Queensland and drive sustainable economic activity for the region,” MrDick said.

Mackay MP Julieanne Gilbert said the project had the potential to make a significant contribution to the region, as well as the state.

"The proponent is committed to boosting employment in nearby regional towns like Moranbah, Dysart and Coppabella,” MrsGilbert said.

Whitehaven Coal purchased Winchester South from Rio Tinto for about $300 million last year and in April, the project was declared a coordinated project by the Coordinator-General.

Whitehaven is hoping to receive approval to commence mining by 2021, and production in 2023 or 2024.

A self-described "emerging force in the coal industry”, the ASX-listed company has six operational mines in NSW, Two more are in the pipeline.

If approved, Winchester South would be the company's first Queensland coal mine.

Project director Todd Harrington told Daily Mercury the company was confident in its jobs figure, as it had been scoped to a similar scale of a Whitehaven mine in NSW.

"We'll do our best to source locally or support locals,” MrHarrington said.

"Moranbah, Mackay, Rockhampton, Emerald and smaller towns surrounding are well-placed to provide a vast majority of skills and services the mine will need.”

The public can view and comment on the draft terms of reference here.

Originally published as Winchester South reaches major milestone