{"id":368252,"date":"2026-01-19T13:11:07","date_gmt":"2026-01-19T03:11:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=368252"},"modified":"2026-01-19T16:50:24","modified_gmt":"2026-01-19T06:50:24","slug":"green-light-for-king-2-east","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2026\/01\/19\/green-light-for-king-2-east\/","title":{"rendered":"Green Light For King 2 East"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The extension will expand the Meandu coal mine into a forestry area (Map: Stanwell)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

January 19, 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

Early works at the King 2 East extension of the Meandu coal mine are due to begin in March.<\/p>\n

This follows Federal Government approval of the project under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.<\/p>\n

Stanwell has previously stated that about 90 per cent of the extension is in either forestry plantation, cleared grasslands, regrowth or tracks.<\/p>\n

In 2019,\u00a0South Burnett Regional Council agreed to permanently close a 3.3km section of Ridge Road to allow the expansion to take place.<\/p>\n

Powerlink also agreed to move several transmission towers.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Mining at King 2 East is scheduled to begin in October.<\/p>\n

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