January 19, 2026
Early works at the King 2 East extension of the Meandu coal mine are due to begin in March.
This follows Federal Government approval of the project under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
Stanwell has previously stated that about 90 per cent of the extension is in either forestry plantation, cleared grasslands, regrowth or tracks.
In 2019, South Burnett Regional Council agreed to permanently close a 3.3km section of Ridge Road to allow the expansion to take place.
Powerlink also agreed to move several transmission towers.
The 187ha extension, to the north-east of the existing pit, will supply the Tarong and Tarong North power stations to the end of their working lives.
The recently released “Queensland Energy Road Map” has not set a date for these closures although under the previous State Government’s accelerated closure plans, the four power-generating units at Tarong could have closed as early as 2032 and the Tarong North unit in 2033.
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