Surat Basin Rail

Project overview*

Managing department Department of Infrastructure and Planning
Project status Project in planning
EIS status EIS complete
Cost $1 billion
Location/s Wandoan to Banana, Surat Basin, Queensland

Surat Basin Rail Pty Ltd (SBR) is proposing to develop 210 kilometres of new rail infrastructure which would connect the Western Railway system near Wandoan (230 kilometres north-west of Toowoomba) with the Moura Railway system near Banana (130 kilometres west of Gladstone).

The greenfield rail infrastructure includes a single narrow gauge track with up to eight passing loops, capable of accommodating trains up to 2.5 kilometres in length, providing open access arrangements to multi-users. The rail infrastructure corridor will be approximately 60 metres wide, with wider sections at passing loops and at significant cuttings and embankments, and will be located wholly within the proposed Surat Basin Infrastructure Corridor State Development Area (SBICSDA).

SBR acts as agent for on behalf of the Surat Basin Rail Joint Venture (SBRJV), which is a joint venture between ATEC Dawson Valley Railway Pty Ltd (a subsidiary of Australian Transport and Energy Corridor Limited (ATEC)), Xstrata Coal Surat Basin Rail Pty Ltd (a subsidiary of Xstrata Coal Queensland Pty Ltd) and QR Surat Basin Pty Ltd (a subsidiary of QR National Limited).

The project, often referred to as the 'Southern Missing Link', will deliver a transport solution from the Surat Basin region through to the proposed Wiggins Island Coal Terminal at the Port of Gladstone, enabling approximately four billion tonnes of thermal coal reserves to become a potentially viable economic resource.

SBR anticipates that construction would commence in the 2011-12 financial year, subject to achieving financial close and obtaining the necessary approvals, and be completed in the 2014-15 financial year. The capital cost of the project is estimated to be $1 billion and it is expected to create up to 1000 jobs during the 33-month construction period and up to 44 jobs over the 50-year operational life of the project.

Current status

Coordinator-General's report

The Coordinator-General has evaluated the environmental effects of the project taking into consideration:

  • the environmental impact statement (EIS)
  • the supplementary report to the EIS (SEIS)
  • all properly made submissions and other accepted submissions for the EIS and SEIS
  • advice provided by State and Local Government advisory agencies
  • other relevant information.

The Coordinator-General's report has been completed and was approved on 9 December 2010. The Coordinator-General decided that the project can proceed subject to the recommendations and conditions contained in the report. To view the Coordinator-General's full report or the summary go to the 'Resources' section below.

Background information

Environmental impact statement process

Significant project declaration

On 30 November 2007, the Coordinator-General declared the project a 'significant project' for which an EIS is required in accordance with Part 4 of the State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971 (Qld). This declaration as a 'significant project' does not indicate support for, or approval of, the project by the Coordinator-General or the Queensland Government. Rather, it is a requirement for the project to undergo a rigorous EIS process.

The EIS process is being managed by the Department of Infrastructure and Planning on behalf of the Coordinator-General.

On 22 February 2008, a delegate of the then Commonwealth Minister for the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts determined that the project was not a controlled action under the Commonwealth Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth).

Terms of reference

Draft terms of reference (TOR) for the EIS were released for public comment from 12 April to 16 May 2008. Twenty-two submissions were received and considered by the Coordinator-General and, where appropriate, incorporated in the TOR, which were finalised on 28 June 2008.

Environmental impact statement

The EIS, prepared by the proponent and based on the requirements of the TOR, was released for public comment from 21 February to 23 March 2009.

Thirty-six submissions on the EIS were received by the Coordinator-General, consisting of 17 from members of the public and 19 from advisory agencies.

Supplementary report to the environmental impact statement

Following an evaluation of the submissions on the EIS, it was determined that an SEIS was required to address matters raised during the public comment period. The SEIS was available for advisory agency review and comment from 4 March to 19 April 2010.

Eleven submissions were received on the SEIS, including two from members of the public and private organisations. All matters raised in the submissions were considered by the Coordinator-General in the EIS evaluation report.

Resources

The following documents are available for viewing or download.

Further information

Further information on the project can be obtained on the Surat Basin Rail website.

* Project information supplied by proponent and subject to change.