Qld approves Grosvenor coal mine

8 Jun 2012, 8:07 pm   -   Source: AAP
(AAP)

(AAP)

The Queensland government has given the final seal of approval for the $1.7 billion Grosvenor coal mine in the state's central highlands.

The Queensland government has given the final seal of approval for the $1.7 billion Grosvenor coal mine in the state's central highlands.

The mine will be operated by Anglo American near Moranbah where the government recently approved a controversial mine workers camp.

Mines Minister Andrew Cripps said both the state and federal governments had signed off on the mine after environmental requirements were satisfied.

The Grosvenor project, near Moranbah, won't be affected by a continuing dispute over environmental approvals between the two governments.

The dispute has delayed the approval process for the GVK-Hancock Coal Alpha coal mine in the Galilee basin.

Mr Cripps said the federal government and the former state Labor government approved the Grosvenor mine's environmental impact statement late last year.

He said the project would create up to 1,000 jobs.

Anglo American expects site construction to begin soon with coal production to begin next year and longwall mining in 2016.

Mr Cripps said the mine was expected to produce up to seven million tonnes a year of high-quality hard coking coal, yielding about five million tonnes a year of product coal for export.

He said Anglo American would offer a range of accommodation options for its workforce, and would build more than 50 new houses and townhouses in the Moranbah area.

"The Queensland government will work closely with the company and the Moranbah community to address key issues such as accommodation availability and infrastructure support," he said in a statement on Friday.

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