Recent council and state Environmental Protection Authority approvals were followed by government approval of the mining licence this week.

According to The Examiner, Tasmania Resources Minister Bryan Green said construction would begin late this year and the mine would be operational in three years.

He reportedly said the mine was expected be worth about $180 million a year to the Tasmanian economy.

“This is a very significant investment and clearly demonstrates that Tasmania is open for business,'' he told the newspaper.

Known as the Fingal Tier project, various reports indicate it has an estimated capital expenditure of just $50 million.

However, HRCM still needs to internally approve developing the thermal coal project and is not commenting to the media at this stage.

According to its website, the project will need a road header, continuous miners, front end loaders, personnel transport vehicles and a conveyor system for the mine development phase.

In its geotechnical assessment, Strata Geoscience and Environmental said the project occupies the site of an abandoned coal mine which is proposed to be recommissioned.

Site development is expected to include workshop and office facilities, loading areas, water supply tanks, mine effluent dams, a conveyor and road infrastructure.

In terms of mine development, HRCM initially expects to drive 1200m of roadway with a roadheader over 12 months while surface construction work is occurring.