Two drifts will be driven from surface to the Harrow Creek Upper coal seam about 270m vertically below surface.

The contract is primarily a rates-based one, with expenditure estimated at $142.8 million. It is expected to take about two years to complete.

It covers the construction of two drifts extending on a decline about 2km to a vertical depth of 270m.

One of the drifts is for men and materials and the second is for the mine drift conveyor.

The contract also includes installation of all permanent mine services pipelines.

These drifts will be used in the future to gain access to coal seams other than the Harrow Creek Upper coal seam.

The drifts driveage will be completed using two roadheaders that have been specifically engineered to meet the requirements of the contract, including onboard roof-bolting and shotcrete tunnel lining capabilities.

Mobilisation to site is expected in the March quarter next year with drifts driveage to begin once mobilisation is complete.

WDS has completed numerous mine access drifts in Queensland and New South Wales.

With this contract secured, the Eagle Downs partners will be trying to progress other tenders and negotiations for other major work packages, including the establishment of site power and raw water supply, ventilation shafts, development and longwall equipment, underground conveyors and the coal handling and preparation plant, including the rail loop and loading facilities.

The project, which has a 245 million tonne reserve is located in Queensland’s Bowen Basin, adjacent to and immediately down dip from the BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance’s Peak Downs coal mine.

The project involves construction, development and operation of one of only two new underground longwall hard coking coal mines under development in Australia.

Construction of the drifts is a critical path development task, representing an important development milestone with project completion due to occur in the first half of 2017.