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Carmichael Coal Mine and Rail Project

Project overview*

EIS statusApproved with conditions
Description Open-cut and underground coal mine with a yield of 60 million tonnes per annum and a 189-kilometre railway line.
Proponent Adani Mining Pty Ltd and Carmichael Rail Network Pty Ltd (joint proponents), both wholly owned subsidiaries of Adani Australia, part of the Adani Group.
Location/s
  • Mine: Galilee Basin, 160 km north-west of Clermont
  • Railway line: from the mine to Moranbah, where it will join the existing Goonyella rail system, connecting to coal terminals at the Port of Hay Point (Dudgeon Point expansion) and the Port of Abbot Point.
Map
Local government/s
  • Isaac Regional Council (majority of mine and rail)
  • Charters Towers Regional Council (small portion of mine)
Key features
  • six open-cut pits and five underground mines
  • five mine infrastructure areas
  • coal handling and processing plant
  • heavy industrial area
  • water-supply infrastructure
  • 189 km rail line
  • off-site infrastructure, including workers' accommodation village and airport.
Investment $16.5 billion
Jobs Mine:
  • Up to 1075 (construction)
  • Up to 3800 (operational)
Railway line:
  • Up to 1400 (construction)
  • Up to 120 (operational)

* Project information supplied by proponent and subject to change.

Environmental impact statement (EIS) process

DateActivity
26 March 2021 Details of outstanding approvals and milestones reached (PDF icon26 KB).
1 October 2020 Details of outstanding approvals and milestones reached (PDF icon26 KB).
25 September 2020 Details of outstanding approvals and milestones reached (PDF icon26 KB).
25 September 2020 Details of outstanding approvals and milestones reached (PDF icon26 KB).
31 January 2020 Details of outstanding approvals and milestones reached (PDF icon29 KB).
3 December 2019 Details of outstanding approvals and milestones reached (PDF icon22 KB).
4 November 2019 Details of outstanding approvals and milestones reached (PDF icon68 KB).
1 October 2019 Details of outstanding approvals and milestones reached (PDF icon 24 KB).
30 August 2019 Details of outstanding approvals and milestones reached (PDF icon 25 KB).
1 August 2019 Details of outstanding approvals and milestones reached (PDF icon 95 KB).
28 June 2019 Details of outstanding approvals and milestones reached (PDF icon 105 KB).
13 June 2019 Details of outstanding approvals and milestones reached (PDF icon 99 KB).
31 May 2019 Details of outstanding approvals and milestones reached (PDF icon 100 KB).
24 May 2019 Details of outstanding approvals (PDF icon 18 KB).
3 May 2018 The Coordinator-General fixed a new lapse date for the Coordinator-General's evaluation report for the project to 14 August 2019.
14 October 2015 Commonwealth Minister for the Environment's approval of 'controlled action' subject to conditions following re-consideration of project under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
24 July 2014 Commonwealth Minister for the Environment's initial approval of 'controlled action' subject to conditions.

Note that the Federal Court formally set aside the initial approval of the project under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 on 4 August 2015 at the request of all of the parties to the court proceedings.
7 May 2014 Coordinator-General's report on EIS (PDF icon 17.5 MB) released.

Additional documentation provided by proponent to Coordinator-General as requested.
25 November 2013 to
20 December 2013
Additional information for the EIS public consultation.
26 March 2013 Additional information for the EIS requested by Coordinator-General.
15 December 2012 to
11 February 2013
EIS public consultation
25 May 2011 Terms of reference for EIS (PDF icon 548 KB) released.
12 February 2011 to
28 March 2011
Draft terms of reference for EIS public consultation.
6 January 2011 Project deemed a 'controlled action' by Commonwealth Minister for the Environment. More information
26 November 2010 Gazettal of 'coordinated project' declaration (PDF icon 171 KB)
18 November 2010 Project referred to Commonwealth Minister for the Environment.
22 October 2010 Application, including initial advice statement (PDF icon 1.79 MB), submitted.

Read more about the EIS process.

Further information

For more information, visit the Carmichael Coal Mine and Rail Project website.

Media releases

Last updated: 16 Mar 2023