Application for New Environmental Authority – Saraji East (A-EA-NEW-100986365) and Mining Lease MLA70383

Closed
24 March 2026 4.30pm
Topic
Environmental licensing and regulation
Type
Public notice and consultation
Region
Mackay

The project proposes a single-seam underground mine on mining lease application (MLA) 70383 commencing from within the existing Saraji mining lease (ML) 1775. It proposes to mine up to 11 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) of run-of-mine (ROM) coal to produce up to 8Mtpa of metallurgical (coking and pulverised coal injection) product coal. This equates to approximately 110 million tonnes (Mt) for the export market over a 20-year mine life. It is located within the Isaac Regional Council (IRC) local government area (LGA), approximately 30 kilometres (km) north of Dysart and approximately 167km south-west of Mackay in the Bowen Basin region of central Queensland.

This EA application is relevant to the notification of MLA70383 and is identical to the EA application being notified in relation to MLA70459.

Public notice for mining lease and environmental authority

Mineral Resources Act 1989 – Section 252A (superseded*)
Environmental Protection Act 1994 – Section 152 (superseded**)

Proposed Saraji East Mining Lease Project – Mining Lease Application Number 70383 for a term of 40 years

It is advised that an application has been made for a mining lease and environmental authority under the provisions of the above-mentioned Acts, for the mining/purpose of Coal on the following land parcels within the Isaac Regional Council:
Lot 201 on SP321205 Freehold, Lot 1 on SP190748 Freehold, Lot 1 on SP190749 Freehold, Lot 2 on SP 190748 Freehold, Lot 2 on SP190749 Freehold, Lot 5 on SP330225 Freehold and Lot 1 on SP330225 Freehold
.

The application is 14 kilometres north of Dysart.

The applicant is:
CompanyPercentage
BHP Coal Pty Ltd 40.75%
BHP Queensland Coal Investments Pty Ltd 8.50%
UMAL Consolidated Pty Ltd 0.75%
Mitsubishi Development Pty Ltd 15.53%
QCT Mining Pty Ltd 15.78%
QCT Investment Pty Ltd 12.00%
QCT Resources Pty Ltd 6.69%

Date and time applications lodged: 18 October 2007 at 8:30am

Mining activities to be carried out include: Coal mining and infrastructure

Mining lease application documents

The application documents which consist of the Application for Mining Lease, copies of or extracts from the application documents, and the endorsed Certificate of Public Notice detailing the location and description of the land applied for (including surface area and access), may be downloaded from the Business Queensland website: https://www.business.qld.gov.au/industries/mining-energy-water/resources/public-notices-tenders or may be inspected at the Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Manufacturing and Regional and Rural Developments office –
Building E, 25 Yeppoon Road, Parkhurst QLD 4702 or may be obtained by contacting the local mines assessment hub on (07) 4936 0169.

Environmental authority documents

The application documents for the proposal consist of the following:

  • Application form
  • Saraji East Mining Lease Project Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) (August 2025)
  • EIS Attachment 1 Supplementary Information (August 2025)
  • EIS Attachment 1 Supplementary Information (October 2025)
  • EIS Assessment Report (November 2025).

Copies of, or extracts from, the application documents may be inspected or accessed at https://environment.qld.gov.au/management/activities/non-mining/regulation/environmental-authority/current-ea-applications#100986365 or may be obtained by contacting Permit and Licence Management by phone on 1300 130 372 or by email on palm@detsi.qld.gov.au

Making a properly made objection/submission

It is advised that any person/entity may make an objection to the grant of the mining lease, and/or a submission about the application for the environmental authority. The objection period, during which objections can be given, concludes Monday, 24 March 2026 at 4:30pm (AEST).

A properly made objection or submission must be received on or before 4:30pm (AEST) on the last day of the objection period. It must be lodged with the chief executive in writing in the approved form, addressed to the relevant Assessment Hub:
Coal Assessment Hub
Building E, 25 Yeppoon Road
Parkhurst QLD 4702
PO Box 3679, Red Hill QLD 4701
Email: CoalHub@nrmmrrd.qld.gov.au

A copy of the objection must also be served upon the applicant/s on or before 4:30pm (AEST) on the last day of the objection period at the following address:
BHP Coal Pty Ltd (principal applicant)
BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA)
Attention: Lead Tenements (QLD)

GPO Box 1389
Brisbane QLD 4000
Email: CoalCorporateAffairs@bhp.com

Objection for the mining lease application:

A properly made objection in respect to the grant of a mining lease is one that:

  • is lodged on or before 4:30pm on the last objection day for the application with the chief executive in writing in the approved form;
  • states the grounds of the objection and the facts and circumstances relied on in support of the grounds;
  • is signed and dated by each person/entity (i.e. signatory) making the objection; and
  • states the name and address of each signatory.

Intending objectors should obtain the approved objection form (MRA-20) by contacting the local mines assessment hub on (07) 4936 0169 or online from the Business Queensland website: https://www.business.qld.gov.au/industries/mining-energy-water/resources/applications-compliance/forms-fees.

Submissions for the Environmental Authority application:

A properly made submission must meet all of the following requirements:

  • be written or made electronically
  • state the name and address of each submitter
  • be made to the administering authority stated above
  • be received on or before the last day of the submission period
  • state the grounds of the submission and the facts and circumstances relied on in support of the grounds.

Intending submitters to the environmental authority may contact the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation on 1300 130 372 to obtain a submission form or obtain a copy from the department’s website Submission form: Application or amendment application for an environmental authority / PRC plan / PRCP schedule (ESR/2015/1617)

* This notice is issued under transitional provisions of the Mineral Resources Act section 829 – ‘Certificates of application for a mining lease given before commencement’.