Summit guests hear first-hand about impact of Galilee Basin mining ‘boom’

Approximately  200 people attended the inaugural  Major Projects Summit yesterday (May 5) where updates on Queensland’s largest undeveloped coal resource were revealed.

The Galilee Basin is set to create a second mining ‘boom’ as previously untapped coal deposits are opened up by some of Australia’s largest mining heavyweights.

Guests at the Major Projects Summit, in Bowen, heard first-hand from top executives from Waratah Coal and AMCI Investments about their projects in the Galilee Basin and the impact they are going to have on the wider region.

Updates were also delivered by executives from Sunwater, the Queensland Resources Council, East Energy, QR National, North Queensland Bulk Ports, QCoal, Meridien Marinas and the Deputy Coordinator General, Damien Walker.

The issue of having sufficient skilled workers to ‘feed’ the mining boom was also a hot topic, and the summit saw the launch of the Whitsunday Industrial Workforce Development (WIWD) initiative, as well as presentations from the Industry Capability Network (ICN) Queensland and the Barrier Reef Institute of TAFE.

Organised by economic development agency Enterprise Whitsundays (EW), the summit was an opportunity for guests to not only understand the extent and significance of these projects but also identify ways they can capitalise on the ensuing opportunities.

EW’s CEO Andrei Koeppen said the mining boom in the Galilee Basin would require an estimated 25,000 workers when the associated infrastructure development and the expansion at
Abbot Point were taken into account.

“What is happening in the Galilee Basin, with mining heavyweights such as Waratah Coal and AMCI Investments starting to mine their previously untouched deposits, will create a second mining boom requiring not only workers for the mines themselves but also an army of workers to build the associated infrastructure, including roads, railways and the Port of Abbot Point expansion,” he said.

“This is going to have a huge impact on the whole region but especially the Whitsunday Region, as the coal is shipped to Asia via Abbot Point, just north of Bowen, which will expand from its current capacity of 18 mega tonnes to a predicted 200 mega tonnes by 2025, to keep up with demand.”

EW chairman, the Hon. Jim Elder, opened the summit. He said it was an exciting and challenging time for the Whitsunday Region.

“With the scope and size of the projects before us, it is challenging, but in meeting that challenge is the opportunity for long-term economic security for the region.

“We need to meet all the challenges head-on – not just infrastructure requirements but the appropriate planning and investment attraction and, importantly, meeting the challenges of the skills and employment requirements.”

The Major Projects Summit was held at the Queen’s Beach Hotel, Bowen, and was preceded by a pre-summit dinner on Wednesday, May 4, at which the State Member for Whitsunday, and Minister for Tourism, Manufacturing and Small Business, Jan Jarratt, gave the welcoming address on behalf of Queensland Premier Anna Bligh.

Whitsunday Mayor Mike Brunker was also at the summit and delivered the closing speech.