Proposed Lake Vermont Meadowbrook Project—Environmental Impact Statement
Public Notice
Environmental Protection Act 1994 – Sections 51 and 52
Notice of Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
Proposed Lake Vermont Meadowbrook Project
An EIS for the proposed Lake Vermont Meadowbrook Project (the project) has been prepared by Bowen Basin Coal Pty Ltd, for a proposed extension to the existing Lake Vermont Mine. The project would be located approximately 30 kilometres (km) northeast of Dysart and approximately 180km southwest of Mackay, within the Isaac Regional Council in Central Queensland. The project covers approximately 8,235 hectares, covered by the northern portion of mineral development licence (MDL) 303 and southern portion of MDL 429, as well as involving the existing Lake Vermont Coal Mine on mining lease (ML) 70528, ML 70477 and ML 70331. Project MDLs will be subject to future ML application processes.
The project would involve the development of metallurgical and pulverised coal injection resources, through underground mining development, as well as a new satellite open-cut pit. The project would enable production from the existing Lake Vermont Mine to be maintained at the currently approved levels of up to 12 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) of run of mine (ROM) coal (equivalent to approximately 9 Mtpa of product coal) for an extended period of approximately 20 years. The recoverable coal reserve in the underground mining area is approximately 108.6 Mt; and approximately 13.3 Mt in the open-cut mining area. Product coal would be transported by rail to the ports at Abbot Point, Gladstone or Mackay for shipping to international and domestic markets. Pending approvals, construction of surface and seam access infrastructure is targeted to commence by the end of 2024, with first underground development coal targeted for mining in 2026. Full underground mine production is scheduled for late 2028 with the commencement of longwall operations. The project would utilise existing infrastructure of the Lake Vermont Mine (e.g. coal preparation plant and rail infrastructure) while also proposing development of a new underground longwall mining area (including a drift and shafts); a supporting mine infrastructure area (MIA); an infrastructure corridor linking the MIA to the existing Lake Vermont Mine; and extensions to existing connections to water and electricity supply networks. The expected life of the project would be 53 years, including construction, operation, decommissioning and rehabilitation.
Environmental Protection Act 1994 (Queensland)
Application was made by the proponent under section 70 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994 (EP Act) to prepare a voluntary EIS for the Lake Vermont Meadowbrook Project. Under section 72 of the EP Act, it was determined that assessment of the proposed Lake Vermont Meadowbrook Project would be by EIS.
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Commonwealth)
The project was determined to be a controlled action (EPBC 2019/8485) under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). The controlling provisions are:
- listed threatened species and communities (section 18 and section 18A);
- listed migratory species (section 20 and section 20A); and
- a water resource in relation to a large coal mining development (section 24D and 24E).
The EIS process will assess potential impacts of the project on the controlling provisions consistent with the bilateral agreement (section 45 of the EPBC Act) between the Australian and Queensland Governments for the purpose of the Australian Government’s assessment under part 8 of the EPBC Act.
To inspect a copy of the EIS in person, contact the EIS coordinator, Lake Vermont Meadowbrook Project, by email eis@des.qld.gov.au or phone 13 QGOV (13 74 68).
The EIS can also be viewed online at www.jellinbah.com.au/environment/. Electronic copies can be ordered by phoning the proponent on (07) 3877 6700 or emailing meadowbrook@jellinbah.com.au
Make a submission
Written submissions in relation to the EIS are invited from any person within the submission period, which commences on Monday 3 April 2023 and concludes on Thursday 18 May 2023 AEST.
Written submissions can be lodged by:
Mail:
The Chief Executive
Department of Environment and Science
Attention: The EIS Coordinator (Lake Vermont Meadowbrook Project)
GPO Box 2454, Brisbane Qld 4001
Email: eis@des.qld.gov.au
A properly made submission is one that:
- is written
- is signed by, or for, each person (‘signatory’) who made the submission
- states the name and address of each signatory
- is made to the chief executive
- is received on or before the last day of the submission period.
For further information regarding the EIS process for this proposal, contact the EIS coordinator Lake Vermont Meadowbrook Project on 13 QGOV (13 74 68) or email eis@des.qld.gov.au
Privacy statement
Please note it is a statutory requirement that all submissions (including names and addresses) will be provided to the proponent as required under section 56 of the EP Act, so that they may consider them and provide a response to the department. This consultation is a public process, and any submission you provide may be published (including online) and may be transmitted outside of Australia. You may wish to bear this in mind when providing your submission. Your information will not be disclosed by the department to any other parties unless authorised or required by law.