More than 200 new mining jobs will be created on the back of Cockatoo Coal’s Baralabla expansion project.
The QLD coordinator general has approved the construction of a new rail load-out facility for the miner’s $313 million expansion project.
The expansion project was initially approved in May, with the latest decision for the rail load out facility allowing for acceleration of the Baralaba project.
“The first part of the mine expansion will enable Cockatoo Coal to expand coal production from 700,000 tonnes a year to one million tonnes,” QLD deputy premier Jeff Seeney said.
“This will climb to 3.5 million tonnes per annum by 2015. We promised to grow the resource pillar of our economy and we are delivering on that promise creating more jobs for regional families.”’
The mine expansion project is officially known as the Baralaba North coal mine and has a predicted mine life of approximately 15 years.
The new train load-out facility will be located three kilometres eat of Moura, adjacent to existing main rail lines.