The proposed 50 million tonne per annum coal Yarwun terminal was declared a “significant project” by the Queensland coordinator-general last week.

Producers operating from the Bowen and Surat basins and potentially the southern Galilee Basin may be given access to the terminal, if the project is approved.

Seeney said Yarwun lay west of the proposed Wiggins Island coal export terminal within the Gladstone state development area.

“This is the first time that a coordinator-general has ever approved the release of a draft terms of reference at the time of the significant project declaration and is further evidence that we are getting on with the job of fast-tracking the impact assessment process and slashing green tape,” Seeney said.

“As the demand for coal exports increases, so does the need for infrastructure to meet the growing rate of coal production in Queensland.

“The long-term success of Queensland’s mining industry relies on the delivery of infrastructure to support international exports.

“If this project goes ahead, it will help facilitate the efficient transport and export of coal, hauling in more dollars for Queensland’s economy.”

The proposed terminal is to be delivered by Tenement to Terminal Limited (3TL), which is proposing to develop a 14km dual gauge rail line, a balloon loop and coal unloading facilities, a coal stockyard, two new berths and an outloading wharf, jetty facilities and associated infrastructure.

The Queensland government announced it would defer the $9 billion expansion of the Abbot Point coal terminal to six wharves and 385Mtpa capacity, opting instead for two wharves with 240Mtpa capacity.

The Newman government said the expansion strategy proposed by the previous Bligh government was overly ambitious and a more open-ended expansion strategy was needed.