New Acland Coal Mine Stage 3 Project – Construction of a new train loadout facility

Overview

Queensland's Coordinator-General invites you to have your say on an application for project change (change application) for the New Acland Coal Mine Stage 3 Project (the project).

The Coordinator-General has released for comment a request from New Acland Coal Pty Ltd (NAC) to remove conditions from the project approval that require construction of a new train loadout facility and associated rail infrastructure.

About the project

The New Acland Coal Mine Stage 3 project is an approved expansion of the existing coal mine at Acland, located approximately 35 kilometres north-west of Toowoomba. The project currently employs 366 employees, along with numerous indirect contractors. The approved project involves expansion of existing coal mining operations and construction of a new train loadout facility, an 8-kilometre-long rail spur and 4-kilometre-long balloon loop within mining lease ML50232.

On 18 May 2007, the Coordinator-General declared the project a ‘significant project’ (now known as a ‘coordinated project’) under section 26(1)(a) of the State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971 (SDPWO Act). In December 2014, the Coordinator-General published the evaluation report on the project’s environmental impact statement, determining the project can proceed, subject to conditions.

NAC recently applied to the Coordinator-General to remove Conditions 4 and 5 of the Coordinator-General’s evaluation report, which require construction of the new train loadout facility, an 8-kilometre-long rail spur and 4-kilometre-long balloon loop. If approved, NAC would be allowed to continue using the existing Jondaryan rail loadout facility (JRLF) for the remainder of the project life (approximately 12 years). The JRLF is located around one kilometre north-west from the township of Jondaryan on Jondaryan – Sabine Road, approximately 140 kilometres west of Brisbane.

NAC is requesting the change in response to the impacts of unforeseen delays due to approval timeframes; the decrease in maximum production rate; and the short-term usage and limited scope for repurposing of the new infrastructure. The proposed change would not increase the coal throughput, increase the amount of coal stockpiled or the number of trains currently using the JRLF.

How to have your say

For information about making a ‘properly made’ submission to the Coordinator-General, refer to the fact sheet Have your say on an application for project change and accompanying submission form, available online and at the public display locations shown below.

Submissions are invited from 12 April 2025 to 22 May 2025.

The project change application is available online from 12 April 2025 to 22 May 2025 at www.statedevelopment.qld.gov.au/newacland.

A hard copy or USB copy is also available from the proponent free of charge by contacting (07) 4691 3445 or community@newhopegroup.com.au or at the New Acland Coal Community Information Centre, 112 Campbell Street, Oakey, during business hours between 12 April 2025 and 22 May 2025.

A copy of the application can also be viewed during business hours between 12 April 2025 and 22 May 2025 at:

• Oakey Library, Oakey Civic Precinct, 60 Campbell Street, Oakey
• Toowoomba City Library, 155 Herries Street, Toowoomba
• Goombungee Library, 89 Mocatta Street, Goombungee
• State Library of Queensland, Cultural Centre, Stanley Place, South Bank, Brisbane.

Send your comments to the Coordinator-General using one of the following methods:

Online:     www.statedevelopment.qld.gov.au/newacland

Email:       newacland@coordinatorgeneral.qld.gov.au

Post:         Attention: The Coordinator-General
                  c/- Project manager—New Acland Coal Mine Stage 3 project
                  Office of the Coordinator-General
                  PO Box 15517
                  City East Qld 4002 Australia