Winchester South project

Project overview*

EIS statusEIS active
Description Greenfield open cut coal mine producing up to 11 million tonnes per annum of primarily metallurgical product coal used for steel making, for up to 28 years.
Proponent Whitehaven WS Pty Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Whitehaven Coal
Location/s Approximately 30 km south-east of Moranbah. Map
Local government/s Isaac Regional Council
Investment $1 billion
Key features
  • open-cut primarily metallurgical coal mine
  • mine infrastructure areas including workshops and a coal handling and preparation plant
  • rail loop and train load out facility connecting to the Norwich Park Branch Railway
  • private access road
  • raw water pipeline connecting to the Eungella pipeline network
  • electricity transmission line from the existing power network
Construction start date 2024
Jobs
  • 500 (construction)
  • 500 (operational)

* Project information supplied by proponent and subject to change.

Environmental impact statement (EIS) process

DateActivity
7 July 2023

The Coordinator-General accepted the revised draft EIS as the final EIS and is now preparing the EIS evaluation report

Final EIS, including appendices.

2 May 2023The Coordinator-General stated a new project declaration lapse date of 7July 2023
8 February 2023The Coordinator-General stated a new project declaration lapse date of 8 May 2023.
21 November 2022 to 19 December 2022

Revised draft EIS public consultation.

Revised draft EIS.

23 February 2022 The Coordinator-General stated a new project declaration lapse date of 6 March 2023.
3 December 2021 Additional information for the EIS requested by the Coordinator-General.
4 August 2021 to 15 September 2021 Draft EIS public consultation.
Draft EIS, including appendices.
26 February 2021 Coordinator-General stated a new project declaration lapse date of 4 March 2022.
4 September 2019 Terms of reference for an EIS (PDF icon 660 KB) released.
17 and 18 July 2019

Commonwealth Minister for the Environment decided the project is a 'controlled action'.

More information

Note: Assessment of a request to the Australian Minister for the Environment and Water to reconsider the controlled action decision under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 for the Winchester South project is underway.

24 June 2019 to 19 July 2019 Public consultation period on draft terms of reference (PDF icon1.2 MB).
17 April 2019 Gazettal (PDF icon 247 KB) of ‘coordinated project’ declaration.
14 February 2019 Application, including initial advice statement (PDF icon 8.8 MB), submitted.

Media releases

$1 billion Winchester South project out for public comment (24 June 2019)

Economic boost for regional QLD with $1b Winchester South project declared (18 April 2019)

Further information

Read more about the EIS process.

Last updated: 07 Jul 2023