The EIS has been prepared under the greentape reduction measures implemented by the Queensland government, raising the possibility of additional statutory timeframe reductions, the company said.

“The EIS has been prepared by Cockatoo Coal and subjected to an extensive independent peer review process to allow DEHP to conduct its review more efficiently,” it said.

Cockatoo Coal MD Andrew Lawson said the EIS was another significant step along the path of expanding Baralaba North from the current 1Mtpa approval to 3.5Mtpa to meet the Wiggins Island Coal Export Terminal Stage 1 development timeline.

“It is an important milestone for us to have delivered upon, and I believe the preparation of the EIS under the new Greentape Reduction measures may yield efficiencies to the statutory process,” he said.

“The Cockatoo approvals team have worked tirelessly to submit this significant document, and I thank them on behalf of the Board for their efforts.”

Lawson also acknowledged the efficiency improvements made by the Queensland Government to the statutory process.

“I must commend DEHP, as well as the Department of Natural Resources and Mines, for the significant improvements made in response times to submissions from the company,” he said.

“We also appreciate the assistance provided to Cockatoo to date through the Office of the Co-Ordinator General as part of our prescribed project status. The Queensland government is delivering on its commitments to the resource sector.”