JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) − Queensland has declared two infrastructure projects, which would support coal expansions in the state, as “significant”, Deputy Premier Andrew Fraser said on Thursday.

The declarations were not approvals, but recognised the size, scale and economic impact that the Goonyella rail and Dungeon Point Coal Terminal (DPCT) projects could have.

The 290-km rail project, proposed by BHP Billiton, would connect the Goonyella Riverside mine complex to the Port of Abbot, paving the way for exports of about 60-million tons of coal each year.

The DPCT project, near the Hay Point port, is being studied by the North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation and a consortium including India’s Adani Mining.

This project would involve the development of two new coal terminals with a combined export capacity of 180-million tons a year, which was about the same amount of coal exported out of the entire state in 2009/10.

Fraser, who is also Treasurer and State Development Minister, said the DPCT could cost $10-billion to $12-billion to develop and could deliver about 5 000 Queensland construction jobs.

"These declarations don't mean the projects will get a rails run. The Coordinator-General will now begin the environmental-impact statement (EIS) process with both proponents.

"It marks the start of a thorough assessment and community engagement process, and will consider the project's environmental, economic and social impacts, to determine if they are acceptable,” he said.

The next step involves the preparation of a draft terms of reference for the EIS, which would be available for public comment in the coming months.

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