New Hope reveals nearly 800 expressions of interest from workers, businesses for upcoming New Acland expansion near Toowoomba

Nearly 800 prospective workers and businesses have lined up to be involved in the upcoming expansion of the New Acland coal mine. Here’s what the project needs to move forward.

Workers and companies are reportedly lining up to work on the upcoming expansion of the New Acland coal mine.

Mine owner New Hope revealed on Wednesday it had received more than 700 expressions of interest from potential workers and another 65 from prospective suppliers to the massive project.

It comes nearly two months after the State Government issued a mining license to New Acland’s third stage, a decision more than a decade in the making.

While the announcement was celebrated by Oakey residents and the resource sector, farmers and activists have vowed to fight the decision and stop a water licence from being awarded.

Mine general manager Dave O’Dwyer said nearly 450 of the 719 worker EOIs were from the Darling Downs, while another 177 were past New Acland workers.

“The number of expressions of interest in the past month proves there is a thirst for well paid, local jobs,” he said in a statement.

“The applications also reinforce the fact the overwhelming majority of the local community, including families, farmers and small business owners want New Acland stage three to go ahead.”

Mr O’Dwyer said New Hope would now focus on lobbying Water Minister Glenn Butcher for the final licence.

“Once the project is under way, we’ll need truck drivers, engineers, electricians, operators, administration staff and mechanics,” he said.

“At the peak of construction, there will be close to 600 local workers on site at New Acland mine.

“Throughout the life of the project, the permanent workforce will be approximately 400 full-time roles, made up of Darling Downs locals.

“Unlike a lot of other mines in Queensland, New Acland Mine does not engage fly-in, fly-out workers, with more than 90 per cent of our previous workforce living within 50km of the site.”

Oakey Coal Action Alliance president Aileen Harris told News Corp in August the group had grave concerns for the viability of farmland around the mine.

“New Acland Coal will never tell you about all the agribusinesses, the machinery shops, the grain supplies and the saleyards that all closed down when farms were bought up by New Hope,” she said at the time.

“Bores have dried up.

“Some producers had 30 metre bores for three generations and now they are drilling up to 130m to get water.”