While more details about Linc’s plans to reopen the mine are expected to emerge within four weeks, Linc coal division president Michael Mapp recently revealed that more than 250 local coal jobs would be created.

"We're sourcing locally from the local skill set which is definitely in Clermont and we'll be hiring them," he told Central Queensland News.

Linc is also open to working with local contractors.

"This will give the contract companies from Clermont and the surrounding towns a chance to show their competitiveness," Mapp reportedly said.

"They know the industry and the opportunity for them to prosper will be there, not just mining companies but catering as well because we'll be sourcing meals and similar things through the community."

The open cut mine was closed in November. Linc entered a sales and purchase agreement to acquire it from a Rio Tinto-led joint venture last week.

Linc said there would be no upfront cost to acquire Blair Athol, which includes the mining tenure, onsite assets and infrastructure.

The Blair Athol Coal Joint Venture has also agreed to contribute to required site rehabilitation, which will occur in 2016-19.

However, Linc still needs to strike commercial agreements over securing rail and port capacity to export through Abbot Point, as well as over workforce accommodation and train-loading capacity.

Linc is expecting its proposed acquisition to become unconditional within six months with mining to restart shortly after.

Linc will target up to 3 million tonnes per annum of saleable thermal coal production for the remaining three years of mine life.

The open cut mine’s production peaked at 11.3Mt in 2009 and the workforce transitioned to the adjacent $US1.29 billion Clermont mine in the following year, with Rio reportedly so far receiving low bids for the asset.