Townsville will be the regional headquarters of $22-billion Adani Carmichael coal mine in Queensland’s Galilee Basin.
The company’s group chairman Gautam Adani will meet with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk in Townsville on Tuesday to make the official announcement.
It comes after final approvals were granted for the project’s rail line into the Abbot Point port, as well as a temporary camp for construction workers.
Adani has previously said the project was expected to create 10,000 direct and indirect jobs in total, including more than 500 positions in areas such as engineering and planning during the pre-construction phase.
Predicted to be Australia’s largest coal mine, Adani Carmichael coal mine would employ between 1,500 and 3,000 people once fully operational.
The ABC understands smaller towns will be deemed ‘first choice’ suppliers for transport, fuel and workers.
The Abbot Point bulk coal facility near Bowen will also be expanded.
The Adani Carmichael coal mine project still needs a water licence approved and hopes to secure a Federal Government loan.
The mine will consist of six open-cut pits and up to five underground mines, and will supply Indian power plants with enough coal to generate electricity for up to 100 million people.
The controversial project involves dredging 1.1 million cubic metres of spoil near the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, which will then be disposed of on land.
Queensland Government defends environmental credentials
News of the mine’s approval sparked protests on Monday, with more than 250 people rallying against the project in Melbourne.
But Queensland’s Minister for Natural Resources and Mines Anthony Lynham denied the giant coal project would destroy the Palaszczuk Government’s green credentials.
“There are 200 stringent conditions placed on this project through its court processes. We can have jobs and economic prosperity for the north as well as protecting the Great Barrier Reef,” he said.
“Our commitment to the reef is strong: $100 million to the reef, no dumping of capital dredge spoil to the reef [and] higher water quality targets.
“And this coal from central Queensland will assist India in meeting its climate change (commitments).”
Dr Lynham welcomed the prospect of a billion-dollar loan to Adani from the Northern Australia Infrastructure Fund for a rail line, despite refusing to invest any state taxpayers’ money in the project.
“We have been firm with our commitment — there’ll be no public funding of this project from Queensland Government resources,” he said.
“[But] the Federal Government’s relationship with Adani is the Federal Government’s relationship, and we support that because we want this project to go ahead.”
Dr Lynham said the Premier would heavily lobby Adani to employ local workers, although there was no contractual obligation.
Adani hopes to start construction in September next year.
Online Source: ABC.net.au.
