GVK POWER & INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITED MEDIA STATEMENT
SUPREME COURT REJECTS APPEALS TO ALPHA COAL PROJECT'S ENVIRONMENTAL APPROVALS
GVK Hancock welcomes today's Supreme Court judgement rejecting appeals from anti- mining activists to environmental approvals for the Alpha Coal Project.
In its ruling, the Supreme Court has rejected an appeal to the previous decision of the Land Court, as well as an appeal to the granting of the Environmental Authority for our proposed Alpha coal mine.
This judgement combines the second and third court ruling in favour of our comprehensive suite of environmental assessments for the Alpha Coal Project.
This legal challenge did not involve landholders in the region, it was only brought forward by anti-mining activists.
We are pleased the court has clearly ruled that our project has continued to follow and comply with all regulatory and legal processes.
This is a great day for Queensland as we can now get on with taking the next step towards creating thousands of jobs for the region and State.
The development of the Alpha Coal Project will create 5,000 jobs during around three years of construction and over 2,000 long-term jobs during the 30+ years of operations.
To date, we have invested tens of millions of dollars and thousands of man hours assessing, planning and engaging with communities to reach the point of achieving approvals, which included around 300 collaborative scientific studies, involving over 500 specialist consultants.
As we continue advancing our projects to a point where construction can commence we will continue meeting every regulatory requirement that is asked of us.
The next steps involve continuing to work with Government to meet specific requirements that will allow for the grant of the Mining Lease for the Alpha Coal Project.
Once approvals are finalised we will execute coal offtake agreements with customers and finalise all financing arrangements in preparation for the commencement of construction.
The proposed Alpha coal mine will be a full open cut mine producing 32 million tonnes per annum for 30+ years from a JORC compliant resource of 1.8 billion tonnes, with 1.2 billion tonnes of reserve.
In 2011, 125,000 tonnes of coal was extracted from a test pit on the Alpha Coal Project site and sent for test burns in Asia, which verified the coal quality as containing the high quality attributes that Asian power generators are looking for, including low ash and low sulphur.
M: 0423 786 672
E: josh.euler@gvkresources.com
Achieving this judgement adds to the successful milestones already achieved for the Alpha
Coal Project:
24 October 2008 | Project declared a 'significant project' by Queensland Government |
11 December 2008 | Invitation for Public Comment on Referral |
13 January 2009 | Project deemed a 'controlled action' by Commonwealth Minister for the Environment |
2009 / 2010 | Delivered comprehensive suite of social and environmental impact assessments to develop Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) |
5 Nov - 10 Dec 2010 | Delivered public consultation on the Environmental Impact Statement |
5 Sept - 3 Oct 2011 | Submitted and undertook agency consultation on Supplementary Environmental Impact Statement |
21 Nov - 19 Dec 2011 | Submitted and undertook agency consultation on addendum to Supplementary Environmental Impact Statement |
29 May 2012 | Received Coordinator General's Report |
29 May 2012 | Granted approval for EIS from Queensland Government |
23 August 2012 | Granted approval for EIS from Federal Government under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act |
8 April 2014 | Received recommendation from Queensland Land Court that the project be approved with conditions |
9 October 2014 | Granted Environmental Authority by the Queensland Government |
4 September 2015 | Received Supreme Court ruling endorsing the grant of Environmental Authority |
Yet to achieve | Project to be granted Mining Lease |
Yet to finalise | Execute coal offtake agreements |
Yet to finalise | Finalise financing arrangements |
Yet to commence | Commencement of construction |
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