About the project
The Blackwater South Coking Coal Project is a proposed open-cut metallurgical coal mine in the Bowen Basin, approximately 50 kilometres south-west of Blackwater. The project includes a coal handling and preparation plant, rail infrastructure, workforce accommodation, water management systems, power supply infrastructure, and associated mining facilities. The project would support up to 750 construction jobs and around 1,200 operational jobs, and is expected to produce up to 8 million tonnes per annum of metallurgical coal for export over a mine life of up to 90 years.
| Proponent | Whitehaven Blackwater Pty Ltd |
| Location/s | Approximately 50km south-west of Blackwater, 80km south-east Emerald. |
| Local government/s | Central Highlands Regional Council |
| Jobs |
|
| Investment | $1 billion |
| Construction start date | July 2030 – July 2032 |
Environmental impact assessment process
This project has been declared a coordinated project by the Coordinator-General under the State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971. We play a role making sure benefits and risks are managed through a rigorous assessment process, and that approvals are coordinated across local, state and federal jurisdictions. Find out more about the coordinated project environmental impact assessment process.
Declaration date | 3 May 2022 |
Assessment process | Coordinated project requiring an environmental impact statement (EIS) Bilateral assessment for a controlled action under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. |
Current stage | The draft EIS is being prepared by the proponent |
| Declaration lapse date | 2 September 2029 |
Assessment milestones
| Date | Activity |
|---|---|
| 20 August 2026 | The Coordinator-General stated a new project declaration lapse date of 2 September 2029. |
| 30 August 2024 | The Coordinator-General stated a new project declaration lapse date of 2 September 2026. |
| 1 March 2023 | Terms of reference for an EIS ( 805 KB)
|
| 19 November 2022 to 16 December 2022 | Draft terms of reference for EIS public consultation ( 662
KB)
|
| 20 September 2022 | Australian Minister for the Environment decided that the project is a ‘controlled action’. |
| 3 May 2022 | Gazettal ( 246 KB) of 'coordinated project' declaration.
|
| 19 November 2021 | Initial advice statement ( 22.3 MB), submitted.
|
Further information
- Find out what it means to have a project declared ‘coordinated’ – with details of the process, the benefits and what kinds of projects can potentially be declared.
- Explore other coordinated projects.