Blackwater South Coking Coal project - draft terms of reference for an environmental impact statement

Overview

Queensland's Coordinator-General invites you to have your say on the draft terms of reference (TOR) for an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Blackwater South Coking Coal project.   

Prepared by the Coordinator-General, the draft TOR sets out the matters to be studied within the EIS. You are invited to comment on whether the draft TOR adequately covers all the matters BM Alliance Coal Operations Pty Ltd (BMA) must address when preparing the EIS. 

About the project

The proponent, BMA, proposes to construct and operate an open cut metallurgical coal mine 50 kilometres south-west of Blackwater and 80 kilometres south-east of Emerald, within the Bowen Basin. The proposed mine would extract up to 8 million tonnes of product coal per annum over 90 years. The proposed mine will produce predominately metallurgical coal to be used for steel-making, with the potential for secondary production of export thermal coal. The proposed project includes a mine infrastructure area, a new rail loop and train load-out facility and supporting infrastructure including an access road, a water supply pipeline, a workers’ accommodation village, and telecommunication and electricity transmission lines.    

A delegate of the Australian Minister for the Environment and Water determined that the Blackwater South Coking Coal project is likely to have a significant impact on matters of national environmental significance and will require approval under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) before it can proceed. The controlling provisions include listed threatened species and communities (sections 18 and 18A of the EPBC Act), and a water resource in relation to coal seam gas development and large coal mining development (sections 24D and 24E of the EPBC Act). The project will be assessed by accredited assessment under the State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971 (Qld). The draft TOR includes requirements to address impacts on matters of national environmental significance.  

How to make a submission

There are different options available to provide comments on this draft TOR. You only need to provide comments using one of these methods. Replicated responses received through different methods will only be counted as one submission.  

1. Read the draft TOR here
   
   OR
   
   Visit one of the following display locations (during the venue’s business hours) between 19 November 2022 and o16 December 2022 to view a printed copy of the draft TOR: 
   • Central Highlands Regional Council Library, 44 Borilla Street, Emerald
   • Blackwater Library, 14 Wey Street, Blackwater
   • Capella Library, 83 Peak Downs Street, Capella
   • Gemfields Library, 7 Burridge Road, Rubyvale
   • Tieri Library, Corner of Grasstree and Anncrouye Streets, Tieri
   • State Library of Queensland, Cultural Centre, Stanley Place, South Bank, Brisbane
   • National Library of Australia, Parkes Place, Canberra.
2. Provide your submission by clicking on the ‘Make a comment’ link below
   
   OR
   
   Send your comments to the Coordinator-General using one of the following: 
   • Online: www.statedevelopment.qld.gov.au/blackwatersouthcokingcoal
   • Email: blackwatersouth@coordinatorgeneral.qld.gov.au
   • Post: attention: The Coordinator-General
     C/- EIS Project Manager – Blackwater South Coking Coal project
     Project Evaluation and Facilitation
     Office of the Coordinator-General
     PO Box 15517
     City East Qld 4002 Australia

Note: If you wish to attach anything (e.g. maps, images or supporting documents), please use the email option instead of the online form. 

While you are encouraged to use the submission form, it is not mandatory. Your submission, including any personal information you provide in connection with your submission, may be disclosed by the Coordinator-General to the project proponent and to other local, State and Commonwealth government agencies. Your personal information will otherwise be dealt with in accordance with the Information Privacy Act 2009 (Qld). If you have special communication needs, telephone the EIS project manager on 1800 011 048 to make alternative submission arrangements.  

What happens next

Following the end of the comment period for the draft TOR, the Coordinator-General will consider any comments on the draft TOR received during the comment period.