Aquila also said in its recent quarterly that the work to assess what was needed to tender for power supply, water supply and accommodation contracts was underway.

Aquila said the construction of the two circa 2km drifts, a $A142.8 million contract WDS won in December, would be complete by the end of 2015.

The 50:50 joint venture has also made an application for a mineral development licence over the neighbouring Eagle Downs South area with the Queensland government.

Drilling will target the same Eagle Downs project seams through this southern area.

The project is one of two Aussie hard coking coal-targeting longwall projects that are under construction.

Meanwhile, Aquila said revised mining plans for its proposed Washpool open-cut hard coking coal project in the state were being developed to optimise production and reduce stripping costs.

A supplementary report to this project’s definitive feasibility study is expected to be complete during the March quarter.