Darling Downs businesses cash in New Acland Coal expansion

Construction is progressing at pace at New Acland Coal and Darling Downs businesses are cashing in.

Work is complete on the $5 million Lagoon Creek Crossing at New Acland Coal.

An estimated $5 million has been spent with Darling Downs businesses during construction of an all-weather crossing at the New Acland Coal mine.

The Lagoon Creek Crossing took about four months to complete and will cater for heavy equipment needed to extract coal from the mine’s Willeroo Pit.

More than a dozen local subcontractors and suppliers were engaged with the project

Dave Cooper, from Coops Construction, said Oakey and surrounding businesses were able to capitalise on the renewed work at the mine.

“We’ve been used constantly, we’re here every week doing something around the mine site, and there is us as well as our suppliers that have been looking.

“We have become a go to business, a lot of people are applying for jobs and we have seen an increase in the inquiries from people looking for work, we have had to buy new vehicles from the local Toyota dealer and the machinery dealers.”

The new crossing is one of several infrastructure projects under way as the mine progresses its Stage 3 expansion following years of legal limbo.

The mine fell into care and maintenance mode as the operators waited for the Queensland Government to grant the expansion, mining lease and water licence, and for the legal challenge to work its way through the Land Court.

While a fresh challenge has temporarily delayed work on the mine’s largest pit, Manning Vale West, crews have already extracted and exported coal from the Manning Vale East pit.

New Acland Mine General Manager, Dave O’Dwyer said his staff have been busy.

“We’re proud to be a leading employer in the region, by offering well-paid, local jobs to hardworking Queenslanders,” he said.

“The latest milestone validates the efforts of so many workers and community leaders, who stood beside New Hope Group as we secured all the necessary Stage 3 approvals from the Queensland Government.”