Queensland Resources Council CEO Ian Macfarlane said the decision meant the critical pieces of economic infrastructure would be under the independent regulatory oversight of the Queensland Competition Authority, which would set conditions on the access and pricing of the regulated monopoly businesses.

 "This is not a small technical point," he said.

"It gives our coal industry, which delivers $1 billion to the Queensland economy every week and employs 11% of Queenslanders in the workforce, greater regulatory certainty.  With that greater regulatory certainty, industry can invest and employ more with confidence."

The CQCN is a 2670km multi-user track network, comprising four major coal systems and one connecting system serving Queensland's Bowen Basin coal region: Newlands, Goonyella, Blackwater and Moura with Goonyella Abbot Point Expansion the connecting system link. It connects more than 50 mines to five major export ports, plus many domestic consumers.

The DBCT  is one of two coal export terminals at the Port of Hay Point, located 30km from Mackay.

The Port of Hay Point is one of the world's largest coal export ports, handling coal from more than 30 mines in the Bowen Basin, Central Queensland - the source of more than 80% of Queensland's coal production.

Macfarlane said QRC had raised this issue with the Queensland government in 2017 and welcomed treasurer Cameron Dick's decision.