Plans lodged to extend the life of Saraji mine in Central Queensland by 30 years

A major Bowen Basin coal mine could have its life extended by three decades if an application to the Federal Government is approved.

Saraji Coal Mine.

A major Central Queensland coal mine could soon have its life extended by 30 years if a proposal gets the green light from the Federal Government.

BMA recently lodged the document proposing the continuation of the Saraji Mine Grevillea Pit with the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.

The metallurgical coal mine near Dysart, about three-and-a-half hours west of Rockhampton or three hours south-west of Mackay, first opened in 1974 and mines about 16 million tonnes per annum.

Just last month the mining giant officially concluded the sale of two other Bowen Basin mines, Blackwater mine 73km southeast of Emerald and Daunia mine south of Moranbah, with Whitehaven Coal for a total of $6.4bn (US$4.1 billion) as of April 2.

According to the referral document, which was lodged through the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act, the pit in its current form is expected to “exhaust current resources” during the 2025 financial year.

The document states the proposed action would see the footprint of the mine extended into the mining lease right next to it and would continue the existing Grevillea Pit up to the 2055 financial year.

Key mining infrastructure, such as access roads, borrow pits and electrical infrastructure already exists within the mining lease area.

New infrastructure within the mining lease area would likely include things such as haul roads, pit infrastructure and flood protection levees.

The document also details some of the land rehabilitation steps for when the mine eventually reaches the end of its life and closes.

According to the referral the “closure landform” will be free draining and will not require sediment dams or other water control structures, unless required for the mine.

The design also includes soil dumps that would be constructed in lifts, or benches, which will be regraded and reshaped to Progressive Rehabilitation and Closure Plan (PRCP) approved slopes and contours before soil preparation and revegetation activities begin.

Luke O'Brien was killed at the Saraji mine. Picture: Supplied

The open cut metallurgical mine was subject to controversy in January of this year when sub-contractor Luke O’Brien was fatally injured.

The 27-year-old BEP Engineering and Maintenance worker and another person had been working in the fuel-bay area of the mine when he became pinned between a mining ute and a B Double fuel tanker.

The tragedy came less than five years after the death of Gracemere father Allan Houston, whose dozer rolled 18 metres down an embankment at Saraji mine on December 31, 2018 and came to rest upside down in a pool of mud and water.

The 49-year-old was found trapped in the cabin with his seatbelt fastened and tragically did not survive.

Allan Houston died when the dozer he was driving rolled 18 metres down an embankment at Saraji mine.

In September 2023, Resources Safety and Health Queensland suspended Saraji’s operations for working near bodies of water after a fatal hazard was identified more than four years after a dozer driver drowned in a pool of mud and water.

The mine safety watchdog also called out supervisor competencies in a Mine Record Entry that lists a number of major safety issues at Dysart’s Saraji mine.

Just last month BHP and Mitsubishi Development Pty Ltd (MDP) completed the divestment of the Blackwater and Daunia mines to Whitehaven Coal after announcing their sale for $4 billion US in October last year.

The public comment on the proposed continuation of Saraji’s Grevillea Pit is open until May 21.

The documents can be viewed and comments can be submitted via the EPBC Act public portal website.