May 18, 2017
by Anne Miller
Moreton Resources has identified a 60 metre wide, 132km long corridor which it would like to use to transport coal north from its proposed Kingaroy mine.
A map released by the company shows the start of the proposed route, which would cross the Bunya Highway as well as the Kingaroy-Burrandowan Road.
A buffer zone includes about half of the Kingaroy Golf Course.
The route ends at Theebine, a tiny town north-west of Gympie with a population of just 200. But it is also the location of where the now-closed Nanango / Kingaroy branch line joined the main North Coast rail line.
Sections of the closed branch line are currently being developed by local councils in a multi-million dollar State Government-backed tourism project to create a rail trail for runners and cyclists between Kingaroy and Kilkivan.
A Moreton statement to the ASX on Monday said the transport route would be located within a 2.5km buffer zone around the “defunct” rail line.
The statement said identification of the transport corridor was a key milestone for the project, as was the completion of “wet season ecology and water quality surveys” for the mine’s Environmental Impact Statement.
“These works have been completed on schedule and within budget and as such the overall timeline and budget for completing the approvals processes for the South Burnett Coal Project remain unchanged,” executive chairman Jason Elks said.
“Following in-depth analysis, the proposed transport corridor for the project has been refined within a 2.5km buffer zone either side of the defunct Kingaroy to Theebine rail line.
“Key community and environmental factors were weighted to minimise potential impacts within engineering constraints.
“The route will avoid all urban areas and minimise fragmentation of land parcels or high value environmental areas.
“The work to date has identified priorities for ongoing assessment and management of the Project proposal and will be used in conjunction with further studies to maximise project benefits and minimise impacts as the EIS process continues.
“The wet season surveys were carried out by independent consulting firm GHD in March/April 2017 following significant regional rainfall. The survey included publicly accessible areas within MLA 700015 and the 2.5km buffer zone either side of the proposed transport corridor.
“The ecological surveys comprised assessments of regional ecosystems, threatened ecological communities, fauna habitats and active searches for wildlife. The aquatic studies occurred at the same time and documented watercourse characteristics, hydrological data and biodiversity.
“The results were as expected, with the high level of previous land clearing and agricultural activity reducing the extent and significance of natural habitats.
“The areas with ecological importance are restricted to relatively small remnants of native vegetation along creeks and roadsides.
“Three specially protected species were recorded within the entire survey area, although there is some potential for other protected species to occur based on suitable habitat features being present.
“Pest species and weeds were relatively abundant across the entire assessment area, and are reflective of the quality of land and potential impact such a project is expected to have.
“Watercourses were all moderately to highly disturbed with evidence of erosion observed at most sample sites.
“The South Burnett Coal Project has been assigned Coordinated Project Status by the Queensland Department of State Development, which identifies it as requiring a rigorous impact assessment, through an EIS, involving whole-of-government coordination.
“MRV Tarong (a wholly owned subsidiary of Moreton Resources) will be seeking to undertake a large diameter drilling program which will provide bulk coal samples for testing within the next two to four months, which is the last significant step in the technical evaluation of the South Burnett project.
“However, the company will only be in a position to make a final investment decision on the project once the MLA and EA have been granted.”
Related articles:
- Moreton Presses On With Mine Plan
- Moreton To Push Ahead With EIS
- Moreton Tax Bill Still In Limbo
- KCCG To Ramp Up Campaign
- Elks’ Role Cut Back Again
- Moreton Appoints Project Manager
- Moreton Starts Mine Approval Process
- KCCG To Make Mine Submission
- Moreton Applies For Mining Licence
- Greens Back Kingaroy Mine Protest
- KCCG Calls For Coal Permit Buyback
- Elks To Resign As Moreton CEO
- Another Step For Moreton Resources
- KCCG Demands Pre-Mining Health Tests
- Crowd Votes Down Mine … Again
- Moreton Faces $8m Tax Bill
- KCCG To Hold Second Anti-Mine Forum
- KCCG Plans Second Forum
- Nannas Take To The Highway
- Kingaroy Coal Mine To Require Federal Approval
- Moreton Looks For Silver Lining
- Between A Rock And Taabinga Village
- Moreton Re-issues Update
- Market Awaits Moreton News
- Moreton Predicts 400-600 Jobs At Mine
- Airport Blocks Cut From Coal Permit
- KCCG Rejects Phone Poll
- Phone Poll Backs Mine: Moreton
- Moreton Takes Mining Plan Out To The People
- KCCG Will Speak To Council
- Nannas Knit Against Mine
- KCCG Meets With State Government
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- Moreton Resources Unveils Mine Partner
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- Moreton Plans To Start Seeking Permits
- Moreton’s Coal ‘Too Expensive’
- Kingaroy Coal Mine? No Way!
- Public Meeting To Discuss Coal Mine
- Stanwell Still Says ‘No’
- Moreton Releases Mine Study Results
- Moreton Resources Eyes Rail Link
- Moreton Buys More Resources
- Mining CEO Talks To Council
- KCCG Sees No Future For Mine
- Green Light For ‘Next Step’
- Moreton Board To Consider ‘Next Step’
- Moreton Resources Splits Off South Burnett Holdings
- Moreton Resources Extends Licence
- Controversial UCG Plant Vanishes
- UCG Plant Starts To Disappear
- Moreton To Begin Mine Concept Study
- Moreton Responds To MP’s Comments
- Moreton Aims To Press On
- Stanwell ‘Rejecting Billions In Savings’
- Stanwell Rules Out Moreton Coal
- ‘Enough Coal For 30-Plus Years’
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It makes me sick how Jason Elks can publish “findings” which are basically lies – I’ve been called a lot of things in my life, but a “pest species” is new.
Considering all the coal mines that are closed down and another monster sized proposed mine near Gladstone, what is the benefit of this one?
Considering all the property owners that will be displaced and otherwise affected, when will we ever stop?
The only motivation of this project is GREED.
Greed from share holders and investors whose interests are placed before the people. It is disgusting. When will sanity come in?
Adriaan
What a good idea to build a coal mine in one of Queensland’s most beautiful farming areas. What a good idea to have a rail link bordering so many properties and surrounding the whole area. Rattling coal trains wont have any impact on the wild life will it? We have strong winds mainly from the south and west which will blow coal dust everywhere, but what a good idea, well done Moreton. What does it matter if the water ways get contaminated because of the mine, we all believe them when they say they clean up and leave the environment better off. If this mine goes ahead and I truly think one would need rocks for brains if it does, Kingaroy and surrounds will be completely gone. God gave us a beautiful country lets destroy it completely for a bit of money. The love of money is the root of all evil, how true is that?
So they’re progressing with the bureaucratic processes and yet they still don’t have a good idea of the quality of the coal in the ground yet, hence the more drilling to come. Not the sharpest tools in the shed are these Moreton Resources people.