Adani has also committed to up to 600 jobs in the next pre-construction phase of the project’s development and locations for staff.

It is expected to create 10,000 direct and indirect jobs over the 60-year life of the project and will consist of six open cut and five underground coal mines as well as the rail and port infrastructure.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk met with Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani yesterday before confirming that: “The coal will be mined in regional Queensland by regional Queenslanders”.

“I have always made it clear: the jobs from the Carmichael Coal project are for Queenslanders,” she said.

“I am pleased Mr Adani has committed to do just that.

“Adani had originally proposed to locate its project offices in Brisbane. I welcome the Adani commitment to locate them in our regions.”

Adani CEO Jeyakumar Janakaraj said the mine was "back on track" after a series of delays brought about by legal objections from activitists. 

"We have gone through processes, through difficult situations but this has been resolved with a lot of resolve in terms of the government and stakeholders who have been involved," he said.

Janakaraj said Townsville would become Adani mining's regional headquarters, while the Mackay-Bowen area would become the regional headquarters for its rail and port operations.

Adani would utilise the "world class" mining services and build industries in Mackay, but was yet to make a final decision on where the mine's fly-in,fly-out base would be.

"We have short-listed both Townsville and Rockhampton and the final decision will be announced in 2017 along with the pre-construction jobs to commence," Janakaraj said.

Rail and port operations headquarters will be in Bowen and mining services based in Mackay; the rail maintenance and provisioning yard is to be in the Mackay-Bowen region; project sourcing centres in Townsville, Charters Towers, Rockhampton, Emerald, Clermont and Moranbah; and the shortlist for a FIFO hub is Townsville and Rockhampton, with a decision due in 2017 coinciding with the start of early works.

Minister for Natural Resources and Mines Dr Anthony Lynham said Adani’s announcement would be an economic shot in the arm for businesses across the state.

“The effects of this project will ripple through our regional economies, whether it’s the mining engineering businesses, the construction materials suppliers, the aircraft maintenance crews or the caterers feeding the work crews,” he said.

“The resources sector provides $2 billion annually in royalties to fund our hospitals and schools: the Carmichael ripple effect will be felt state-wide.”

Minister Assisting the Premier on North Queensland Coralee O’Rourke welcomed the location of Adani’s HQ in Townsville as a huge boost for the city, and the entire North Queensland region.

 

“I know Adani’s Carmichael coal mine project is vital for the north because it means thousands of jobs are coming our way,” O’Rourke said.