New South Wales Premier Kristina Keneally was a no-show, while environmentalists and union members launched their own protests.

The loading of the first bulk carrier, Global Splendour, was less splendid than expected as environmental activists had managed to paint “quit coal” on the side of the vessel overnight.

The coal came from Peabody’s Wambo operation and is destined for Japan.

While the industry consortium took three years after planning approval to complete the third terminal at Newcastle’s port, NCIG chairman Tony Galligan is already talking about expansion.

“Stage two will double the capability of stage one, adding more than $600 million a year to state revenue through royalties and attracting extra investment of more than $1 billion to New South Wales,” he said.

The NCIG board was hoping arrangements for further expansion would soon be finalised, which would keep the 800-strong construction workforce busy for another two to three years.

NCIG project director Rob Yeates said the terminal would generate thousands of well-paid jobs across regional NSW as new mines were brought online and new rail and road infrastructure was built to support the coal chain.

The new terminal’s capacity is 30 million tonnes per annum but NCIG has government approval to expand it to 66Mtpa.

About 200 guests from Australia and around the globe attended the event, along with about 100 protesting union members.

Keneally told the ABC she was encouraging NCIG to continue working with the union movement.

The consortium managed to build the terminal using contracts under the old WorkChoices law before the federal government introduced its own industrial relations regime.

NCIG completed the feasibility study for the second-stage expansion last year and has earmarked land for a separate 90Mtpa terminal, Terminal 4.

The consortium consists of BHP Billiton, Donaldson Coal, Whitehaven, Centennial Coal, Peabody and more recently Yancoal Australia following its acquisition of Felix Resources.