PERTH (miningweekly.com) – The Queensland Coordinator-General has approved BHP Mitsubishi Alliance’s (BMA’s) Red Hill mine, north of Moranbah, but has prohibited the mine from relying fully on a fly-in, fly-out (Fifo) workforce.

At peak production, the Red Hill mine will create 2 000 construction jobs and 1 500 operational jobs and increase coal output from about 18-million to up to 32.5-million tonnes a year at the mining complex centred on Goonyella-Riverside.

“This development will provide a valuable job boost in Central Queensland regional communities and businesses, as well as the rest of the state,” said State Development and Natural Resources and Mines Minister Dr Anthony Lynham.

“But it’s also critical that development takes into account the economic and social impact of 100% Fifo on resource communities.”

Conditions imposed by the Coordinator-General stated that the Red Hill mine was not allowed to make 100% use of Fifo employees, with detailed and regular reporting expected on workforce composition and operations.

MBA would also be required to provide an audit of existing housing capacity before the project starts and to ensure that the best use was made of existing capacity.

Lynham said the Coordinator-General would review the conditions following the completion of the government reviews into Fifo to ensure that those findings were taken into account.

Conditions were also set to avoid, mitigate or offset predicted environmental impacts of the project.

Mining union CFMEU has welcomed the decision to impose a ban on 100% Fifo employment at the mine, with CFMEU district president Stephen Smyth saying the conditions of approval were a victory for local families in regional communities and all workers, who would have a choice about their commuting arrangements and lifestyle.

“There are many skilled local mineworkers in Central Queensland who have been denied jobs at BMA’s existing 100% compulsory Fifo mines.

“The preference for compulsory Fifo has meant that many mineworkers and their families have been forced to look for work elsewhere. This has left our vibrant regional communities hurting and local businesses struggling.

“With access for locals to jobs, the Red Hill project has the potential to deliver a real boost to Central Queensland communities at a time when it is needed the most,” Smyth said.

The mine proposal now enters the next stage, which involves environmental authorities, public consultation, and potentially Land Court hearings.