The Dawson project surrounds the current Moura open cut mine. Moura is being renamed Dawson Central and its output will be complemented by two new mines, Dawson North and Dawson South.
Together the mines will produce 12.7Mtpa, a massive increase on present output of 7Mtpa.
When the project is completed in 2007 it will be one of the largest coal mining ventures in Australia.
At the moment, 460 people are working on the project, a figure that will rise to 760 at the peak of construction.
When the project is complete, more than 200 new, permanent jobs will have been created.
The project will also mean an additional $300 million for state export earnings.
