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Caval Ridge Mine

Project overview*

EIS statusApproved with conditions
Description Open-cut coal mine with a yield of 5.5 million tonnes per annum (mtpa), and associated infrastructure.
Proponent BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) Coal Operations. BMA is the manager and agent on behalf of the Central Queensland Coal Associates Joint Venture between BHP Billiton Ltd and Mitsubishi Development Pty Ltd.
Location/s
  • Northern boundary: 6 km south of Moranbah.
  • Mine entrance: 17 km south of Moranbah and about 170 km south-west of Mackay. Map
Local government/s Isaac Regional Council
Key features
  • open-cut mine
  • coal handling preparation plant
  • accommodation village

* Project information supplied by proponent and subject to change.

BMA Bowen Basin Coal Growth Project

The Caval Ridge Mine is one of the four components of the BMA Bowen Basin Coal Growth Project. The others are:

  • Daunia Mine: new open-cut coal mine (4 mtpa) and coal handling preparation plant.
  • Moranbah Airport: new airport, to replace the existing Moranbah airport. (This project has been discontinued.)
  • Goonyella Riverside Mine Expansion: expansion of existing open-cut and underground coal mine from 16mtpa to 24 mtpa. (This project has been discontinued.)

Please note: Although all four components were covered in the same initial advice statement and terms of reference for the EIS, each component was the subject of a separate EIS.

Environmental impact statement (EIS) process

DateActivity
30 November 2011 Addendum to Coordinator-General's report on EIS (PDF icon 1.75 MB) released, approving the extension of time to submit the EIS for the subsequent Red Hill Mine component of the project to 30 November 2012.
9 August 2010 Coordinator-General's report on EIS (PDF icon 1.7 MB) released.
13 November 2009 to
14 December 2009 		Public consultation on supplementary information to EIS.
7 February 2009 to
9 March 2009 		Public consultation on EIS
6 November 2008 Terms of reference for EIS (PDF icon 506 KB) released.
23 September 2008 Project deemed a 'controlled action' by Commonwealth Minister for the Environment. More information
20 August 2008 Project referred to Commonwealth Minister for the Environment.
18 July 2008 Gazettal of 'significant project' declaration (PDF icon 205 KB)
27 May 2008 Application, including initial advice statement (PDF icon 1.11 MB), submitted.

Read more about the EIS process.

Australian Government approval

Commonwealth Minister for the Environment's approval of 'controlled action', subject to conditions.

Social impact management plan

As part of its EIS, BMA prepared a social impact management plan.

Project changes

Since the publication of the Coordinator-General's report on the EIS, BMA has applied for changes to the project.

Buffel Park Accommodation Village

BMA submitted three development applications relating to the village to the local council.

Media releases

Last updated: 16 Mar 2023