The Newman government’s scaled back approach to Abbot Point’s expansion will now provide an extra two new wharfs at Abbot Point instead of six for future Galilee and Bowen basin coal producers, including Palmer’s Waratah Coal, Gina Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting and Indian group GVK.
Waratah was one of the six preferred respondents awarded a position for the development of T4-T9 and multi cargo facility Abbot Point port facilities. But the company said in a statement the setback would not stop it from pursuing the development of a stand-alone 240 million tonne jetty and coal stockyard terminal.
“Waratah Coal acknowledges the Newman government’s decisions on the T4-T9 and multi cargo facility and to develop coal port infrastructure at Abbot Point in a more practical and efficient manner,” the company said.
“Waratah Coal will continue to work with government on a scaled back and staged approached to infrastructure development at Abbot Point which align closely to the needs of their China First coal project.”
The proposed China First Project includes plans to develop a new coal mine, high capacity rail system and coal export facilities to export 40Mt per annum of high volatile low sulfur steaming coal to international markets at a total cost of $8.3 billion.
Waratah’s proposed coal stockyard area and a standalone jetty capable of berthing eight cape size vessels, was currently before state and federal governments, it said.
The construction period will extend for a period of three years and at its peak will require 6000 contractors.
Seeney said in a statement: "As a government we have a responsibility to ensure that any plans for the port at Abbot Point take into consideration the short and long-term needs of industry.
“In the long term, the government will work with the industry to provide additional capacity at Abbot Point.
"We consider that expansion at Abbot Point should be incremental. We will proceed with T2 and T3 and will discuss with industry what additional capacity is needed as that expansion is underway.”
He added: "The proposals outlined by the Bligh government were unrealistic and undeliverable. They were never going to come to reality."
