Two new CQ mine developments to employ up to 50 staff

The project will be open-cut, truck and shovel including dozer push and a dragline to maximise mining efficiency, estimated to have an output of 4.5 million times.

Location of Wilton and Fairhill mines near Gregory-Crinum mine in Lilyvale near Emerald.

TWO NEW mining operations that would employ up to 50 people and have an output of 4.5 million tonnes per annum have been proposed for the Bowen Basin.

Futura Resources and Sojitz Coal Mining Pty Ltd have proposed the joint venture for the development, operation, rehabilitation and washing and handling of coal from the proposed Wilton and Fairhill operations.

The two development areas are in Lilyvale, approximately 45km northeast of Emerald, with a subject site of 7742ha.

The mining operations would be central to the Bowen Basin, approximately 28km southwest of the existing Gregory Mine, and surrounded by prominent mines such as Ensham, Kestral and Oaky Creek.

The project will be open-cut, truck and shovel including dozer push and a dragline to maximise mining efficiency.

The Wilton operation would be commenced first, which is predicted to produce 1.65 million tonnes per annum.

The ultimate total output of both operations ramping over an extended period is estimated to be 4.5 million tonnes per annum.

The mine life is anticipated to be in excess of 15 years.

Futura Resources expects the workforce to be 40 to 50 persons.

The application notes the operation will be supervised and managed by company personnel and utilise a range of specialist contractors for mining, drilling, blasting and road haulage activities. Infrastructure will be established on the site to support the operation.

The coal would be transported to the existing Gregory-Crinum coal handling and preparation plant via existing council-controlled roads and new access routes proposed as part of the project.

The coal extracted from the Wilton and Fairhill mines would be washed at the Gregory Crinum mine wash plant before being exported.

The application notes Sojitz is negotiating with Central Highlands Regional Council to upgrade the roads.

The coal will be transported by road via road trains and railed to Gladstone. The application notes Aurizon has agreed to upgrade a number of crossings for the development.

It was reported in 2018 that the coal in the Wilton-Fairhill project was a different type of coal, similar in quality to Gregory Crinum.

Sojitiz said it would be a new coal province of low strip ratio, high productivity, open cut coal mining.

Andrew Bell of Murray and Associates Emerald office was commissioned to lodge the application on behalf of Sojitz Gregory Crinum Pty Ltd.

The application is for a development permit for material change of use to establish an extractive industry on three lots in Lilyvale.

It was first lodged in November to Central Highlands Regional Council who requested further information.

The public notification period ended on April 15.

The Department of Mining and Natural Resources has advised the mining lease application for the Wilton mine is currently with the Queensland’s Land Court for hearing for matters arising from landholder compensation negotiations.

The Fairhill mining lease application is with the court with matters arising from the public objection process and landholder compensation negotiations.

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