Detailed in its application to the federal government’s Environment Department, Mitchell Ports subsidiary Hay Point Exports revealed that the BBT’s proposed rail loop off the Goonyella system would follow the existing rail easement that was earmarked for Dudgeon Point.

While the Dudgeon site, located 4km northwest of BHP Billion Mitsubishi Alliance’s Hay Point coal terminal and the Queensland government’s Dalrymple Bay coal terminal, was targeting up to 180 million tonnes per annum of export capacity through two terminals, the BBT project is a far smaller undertaking.

Considered a “barging and transhipping” terminal, Mitchell is targeting up to 30Mtpa of export capacity at BBT and wants development to occur in incremental stages of 10-15Mtpa each to meet “market demand”.

In what should make the green-tape journey smoother, the project is based on Mitchell Ports’ offshore ship loading model, which avoids or minimises dredging.

Under this system the coal will be barged out to floating offshore transhippers, which then load the coal from the barges onto export carriers including Cape size vessels.

Mitchell expects the project to employ up to 350 people during construction and 250 during operations.

Despite the coal market downturn, Mitchell explained there was still an industry need for the project.

“DBCT, the existing multi-user terminal, has its capacity already fully contracted with mining companies, which means new or expanded mines cannot be accommodated without additional terminal capacity being built at the port,” HPE said in the BBT referral.

“The HPCT only processes coal from BMA mines and it is currently being expanded to meet company demand.

“BBT will assist with meeting the demands of coal export volumes incrementally from Queensland coal mines.”

The federal application was made to meet the requirements of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, with more than 100 threatened or endangered species assumed to be in the project area.