Vitrinite Vulcan Complex Project near Moranbah gets environmental approval

Construction on a multimillion dollar mining project near Moranbah is a step closer to beginning with an environmental referral being approved by the Federal Government. Here’s what we know.

Just months after receiving a mining licence, a multimillion dollar mining project has been given the green light to proceed with conditions under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.

The Vitrinite Vulcan Complex Project recently received the approval which was signed off by Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley.

Vitrinite was granted a mining lease for its new $160 million Vulcan metallurgical coal mine near Moranbah in September last year.

The project between Moranbah and Dysart will create at least 150 full-time jobs and is expected to deliver a major economic boost to the Isaac and Mackay regions.

According to the EPBC Act approval documents, conditions of the approval include not clearing any more than 203.5 hectares of koala habitat.

The document also states the approval holder must not clear 170ha of squatter pigeon breeding habitat or more than 209.8ha of squatter pigeon foraging habitat.

Conditions of the approval also state the approval holder must not clear outside the approved area.

The Vulcan Complex Project will operate for about four years initially and is expected to extract about six million tonnes of run-of-mine coal at a rate of up to 1.95 million tonnes per annum.

Associated infrastructure for the mine would include a small out-of-pit waste rock dump, heavy vehicle workshops and park up, an explosives magazine, and project offices and facilities.

The mine would be the first for Queensland mining company Vitrinite Pty Ltd, that has invested significant time and effort exploring for coal on its project.