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Blackwater South Coking Coal project

Project overview*

EIS statusEIS active
Description Greenfield metallurgical coal mine with a yield of up to 8 million tonnes of product coal per annum for approximately 90 years, for steel production.
Proponent BM Alliance Coal Operations Pty Ltd
Location/s Approximately 50 km south-west of Blackwater, 80 km south-east Emerald. Map
Local government/s Central Highlands Regional Council
Investment $1 billion
Key features
  • open-cut metallurgical coal mine
  • access roads
  • rail loop and train load out facility
  • electricity transmission line from the existing power network
  • raw water pipeline integrated with the Blackwater Mine, sourcing water from Blackwater Mine storages and off-site via water allocations
  • mine infrastructure areas including workshops and a coal handling and preparation plant
  • on-site temporary construction accommodation village
Construction start date 2029
Jobs
  • 500 - 750 (construction)
  • 1,200 (operational)

* Project information supplied by proponent and subject to change.

Environmental impact statement (EIS) process

DateActivity
Currently Draft EIS being prepared by proponent
1 March 2023 Terms of reference for an EIS (PDF icon 805 KB)
19 November 2022 to 16 December 2022 Draft terms of reference for EIS public consultation (PDF icon 662 KB)
20 September 2022

Delegate for the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment decided that the project is a ‘controlled action’. More information

A project that has the potential to have a significant impact on matters of national environmental significance is called a 'controlled action' and requires approval under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth).

3 May 2022 Gazettal (PDF icon 246 KB) of 'coordinated project' declaration.
19 November 2021 Initial advice statement (PDF icon 22.3 MB), submitted.

Further information

Read more about the EIS process.

Last updated: 16 Mar 2023