Proposed Yarrabee Coal Mine Continuation Project—Draft terms of reference

Closed: 16 January 2026 11.59pm
Topic: Environmental licensing and regulation
Type: Public notice and consultation
Region: Capricorn

Yarrabee Coal Company Pty Ltd. proposes the Yarrabee Coal Mine Continuation project to extend the development and operation of an existing open-cut coal mine and associated infrastructure. Mining up to 4 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) of run-of-mine coal (ROM), with approximately 2,296 hectares of additional disturbance within existing Mining Leases (ML) ML 1770, ML 80049, ML 80050, ML 80096, ML 80104, ML 80172, ML 80195, ML 80196, ML 80197 and ML 80198 in the Bowen Basin. The project is expected to produce approximately 74 Mt of ROM over the mining life, extending out to 2070, with 100% of the coal product classified as metallurgical coal.

Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation
Public Notice
Environmental Protection Act 1994 (EP Act) – Section 42
Draft terms of reference for an environmental impact statement (EIS)
Proposed Yarrabee Coal Mine Continuation Project

Yarrabee Coal Company Pty Ltd. (YCC), a wholly owned subsidiary of Yancoal Australia Limited, proposes to develop the Yarrabee Coal Mine Continuation project (the project). The project would extend the life of mining operations at the Yarrabee Coal Mine through the continued operation of an open-cut coal mine and associated infrastructure until 2070. With an estimated start date of 2028, approximately 74 million tonnes of run of mine (ROM) coal would be mined at a continued rate of up to 4 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) at an average rate of 3.8 Mtpa. The project area comprises 2,296 hectares within existing Yarrabee Coal Mine mining leases (ML) ML 1770, ML 80049, ML 80050, ML 80096, ML 80104, ML 80172, ML 80195, ML 80196, ML 80197 and ML 80198. The project would be located approximately 40 kilometres (km) north-east of Blackwater, 150km west of Rockhampton, and 280km north-west of the Port of Gladstone.

YCC is seeking an amendment to the Yarrabee Coal Mine environmental authority (EA) EPML00844613 to continue and expand open cut operations to produce metallurgical coal, primarily for the international steel market. The continued operations would maintain the currently approved Yarrabee Coal Mine production rate and be restricted to the existing mining leases. ROM coal mined during the life of the project would utilise existing mobile equipment and would be handled and processed at the existing Yarrabee Coal Mine coal handling and processing plant (CHPP). No major upgrades to the existing CHPP or load out transport infrastructure are planned as part of the project. Minor upgrades over the proposed life of the project may be required for the continued use of the existing mining infrastructure area, offices and workshops. Raw and potable water for the project would be sourced as per the existing Yarrabee Coal Mine operations, from incidental rainfall capture, natural/stormwater runoff and trucked in potable water. YCC also holds a water licence to access water from the Mackenzie River, which may be used to supplement water supply.

On 14/03/2025 YCC submitted an application for a voluntary EIS which was approved by the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (the department) on the 28/04/2025.

The project has not been assessed under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999(EPBC Act). In accordance with the proponent’s proposed approach, this EIS will not assess the potential impacts of the project on any possible controlling provisions under part 8 of the EPBC Act, nor will it be undertaken in accordance with the assessment bilateral agreement between the Australian Government and the State of Queensland or other similarly accredited joint assessment process.

YCC submitted the draft terms of reference (TOR) for an EIS for the proposal to the department on 23/10/2025.

The draft TOR may be viewed on the Queensland Government website at:
Yarrabee Coal Mine Continuation project EIS
(https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/management/environmental/eis-process/projects/current-projects/yarrabee-coal-mine-continuation-project)
or by emailing the proponent at Yarrabee.Environment@yancoal.com.au

Written comments

The department’s chief executive invites written comments from any person in relation to the draft TOR, within the comment period from 21/11/2025 to 16/01/2026. To assist with providing comments, the department has developed a draft TOR comments template (ESR/2018/4084) which may be used.

Please address written comments to:
The Chief Executive
Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation
Attention: The EIS Coordinator (Yarrabee Coal Mine Continuation project)
GPO Box 2454, Brisbane QLD 4001
or by email to eis@detsi.qld.gov.au

Privacy Statement

The department is collecting the information provided in comments for consideration in the EIS process. All comments (including names and addresses) will be provided to the proponent as required under section 44 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994, so that they may consider them and provide a response to the department. This consultation is a public process, and any comments you provide may be published (including online) and may be transmitted outside of Australia. You may wish to bear this in mind when providing your comments. Your information will not be disclosed by the department to any other parties unless authorised or required by law.

When the EIS is released, public submissions will be invited. For further information about the EIS process for this proposal, contact the EIS coordinator on 13QGOV (13 74 68) or email eis@detsi.qld.gov.au