Wetalla Water Pipeline

Project overview*

EIS status	Approved with conditions
Description	A 45-kilometre underground water pipeline to supply up to 5500 megalitres of treated waste water to the New Acland coal mine, which is earmarked for expansion.
Proponent	New Acland Coal Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of New Hope Corporation Limited
Location/s	The pipeline will run from the Wetalla Wastewater Reclamation Facility in Toowoomba to the mine, 35 km north-west of the city. Map
Local Government/s	Toowoomba Regional Council
Key features	water pipeline raw water dam storage tanks pump station 750 KV transformer surge tower

* Project information supplied by proponent and subject to change.

Pipeline part of larger project

The Wetalla Water Pipeline is one of the components of the New Acland Coal Mine Stage 3 Expansion Project, which aims to expand the mine's production from 4.8 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) to up to 7.5 mtpa.

Construction of the water pipeline was expedited by the proponent, in accordance with section 32(1)(b) of the State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971.

This section of the Act allows proponents to prepare a separate environmental impact statement (EIS) that addresses the terms of reference relating to a particular component of the project.

Please note: although the water pipeline EIS is separate to the EIS for the remainder of the project, all of the project's components are covered in the same initial advice statement and terms of reference for the EIS.

Read more about the New Acland Coal Mine Stage 3 Expansion Project.

Environmental impact statement (EIS) process

Date	Activity
19 December 2008	Coordinator-General's report on Wetalla Water Pipeline Project EIS ( 755 KB) released.
31 October 2008	Wetalla Water Pipeline Project supplementary EIS submitted. To obtain a copy, contact the proponent.
12 July 2008 to 15 August 2008	Public consultation on Wetalla Water Pipeline Project EIS. EIS - Executive summary ( 1.23 MB) Complete EIS
26 March 2008	Project not deemed a controlled action by Commonwealth Minister for the Environment.
24 October 2007	Terms of reference for EIS ( 575 KB) released.
21 July 2007 to 20 August 2007	Public consultation on draft terms of reference for EIS.
18 May 2007	Gazettal of 'significant project' declaration ( 177 KB)
24 April 2007	Application, including initial advice statement ( 483 KB), submitted.
23 April 2007	Project referred to Commonwealth Minister for the Environment.