Qld govt approves new coal mine

The Queensland government has conditionally approved a $4 billion coal mine in the
Bowen Basin which could create 1700 jobs.
The state's coordinator-general has signed off on the Caval Ridge Coal Mine in
central Queensland with strict development and operational restrictions.
These include a network of 16 air-monitoring stations around the mine and the
township of Moranbah, dust and flood mitigation work and a potential housing plan.
The BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance project proposes a new open-cut coal mine that
straddles the Peak Downs Highway, near Moranbah, 170km southwest of Mackay.
The decision has come more than year after the coordinator-general began studying
the environmental impact assessments.
The report will now be provided to the federal environment department.
Treasurer Andrew Fraser told reporters in Brisbane on Thursday the federal
government will make its decision in coming months.
He said the construction of the mine could start in 2011, with first coal exports by
2014.
"There's potential for 1200 construction jobs ... and 495 ongoing jobs in what is a
significant expansion that underscores the continued strength in the resources
sector," he said.
The mine is expected to produce 5.5 million tonnes a year of high-quality hard
coking coal, with first exports by 2013/14.
Mr Fraser said air monitoring would look at the cumulative environmental impact of
mines in the area.