Southern Queensland mining developments and exploration updates

Southern Queensland is fast becoming the next major energy hub for Australia, as large resources of thermal coal and coal seam gas attract national and international investment.

Leading the development in the region are multi-billion dollar coal seam gas (CSG) projects throughout the Surat Basin proposing to produce and deliver CSG to residential centres and for export through processing plants currently under construction in Gladstone.

Growing demand for high volatile thermal coal for local power generation and export markets, allied with an improved coal rail transport network, will boost coal mining developments and unlock around 6.3 billion tonnes of coal resources.

The region (see Figure 1 below) also currently produces significant quantities of oil and natural gas from wells in South West Queensland, and minerals such as rutile, ilmenite, silica, silver, limestone, bentonite and boulder opal from across the region.

There are currently 8 coal mines, 7 mineral mines and 58 medium to large (>20,000 TPA) extractive quarries operating in Southern Queensland.

Mining and energy projects list and maps

• Mining and Petroleum Operations (PDF, 82 kB) (May 2011)
• Mining and Energy Development Projects (PDF, 412 kB) (December 2011)
• Advanced Exploration Projects (PDF, 86 kB) (December 2011)
• Mining and Petroleum Operations and Developments map (PDF, 547 kB) (December 2011)
• Advanced Exploration Projects map (PDF, 509 kB) (December 2011)
• South West Queensland Mining and Petroleum Operations, Developments and Exploration map (PDF, 423 kB) (December 2011)

Project information is largely based on publications released by Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and publicly listed mining and exploration companies.

Exploration and new developments quarterly reports and maps

This report largely represents a selection of company information updates from ASX listed mineral, coal and petroleum companies active in Southern Queensland.

2010

• December Quarter 2010 (PDF, 106 kB) ( 23 May 2011)

2011

• March Quarter 2011 (PDF, 50 kB) (23 May 2011)
• June Quarter 2011 (PDF, 55 kB) (30 August 2011)
  PDF Release date: 1 September 2011
• September Quarter 2011 (PDF, 130 kB) (30 November)
  PDF Release date: 20 December 2011

Mining operations and projects workforce maps

• Wide Bay Burnett Region Mines and Projects map with workforce (PDF, 420 kB) (August 2011)
• Surat Basin Mines and Projects map with workforce (PDF, 326 kB) (December 2011)
• South East Queensland Region Mines and Projects map with workforce (PDF, 505 kB) (December 2011)

Mines and quarries contact lists

• Mines and Petroleum Operations (PDF, 70 kB) (May 2011)
• Quarries (PDF, 52 kB) (May 2011)

Publications and maps

A comprehensive and useful map detailing Queensland's mineral, petroleum and energy operations and resources can be downloaded from the Department's website.

Brochures providing an overview of Queensland's coal, mineral and coal seam gas sectors can be downloaded from the Department's website.

Information Centre:

A wide range of departmental publications, registers and information is available for inspection and purchase at the department's Information Centre.

Level 10, 119 Charlotte Street
Brisbane QLD 4000

PO Box 15216, City East QLD 4002

Further information:

For further information about Southern Queensland exploration and mining please contact:

Department of Natural Resources and Mines
Podium 2, Landcentre
Corner Main and Vulture Streets
Woolloongabba Qld 4102

PO BOX 1475
COORPAROO QLD 4151
Phone: +61 7 3896 3547
Email: MinesInfoSouthern@deedi.qld.gov.au

http://www.deedi.qld.gov.au/