Herald 20220920

Acland expected to inject $1 billion
into local economy
Hundreds of people have
already contacted the New
Acland mine about getting a
job when, and if, Stage 3 of the
project gets its final approval
from the State Government.
These potential employees
and suppliers are hoping to
share in the projected $1 billion
that the third stage of the mine
is likely to generate for Acland,
Oakey, and the wider region
over the next 12 to 15 years.
The New Hope Group, which
owns the Acland mine, late
last month received a mining
approval for Stage 3 of the
project after waiting about 12
years on the State Government.
Last week, New Acland said
it was accepting expressions
of interest from employees and
suppliers.
New Hope Group is encouraging
Darling Downs locals to
register their interest in a job at
New Acland Mine via an online
portal - https://newhopegroup.
com.au/current-expressions-ofinterest/
Because the Queensland
Minister for Resources, Scott
Toowoomba Region councillors
have endorsed the recommendation
to continue having
domestic waste and recycling
collection service delivered by
JJ Richards, as well as entering
into a short-term contract with
Re.Group for the processing of
recyclable material.
Cr Nancy Sommerfield said
the 12-year contract that is
recommended to be awarded
to JJ Richards for Waste and
Recyclables collection would
ensure ratepayers continue to
receive a high quality collection
service.
“This was a rigorous tender
process as waste collection
and recyclables is one of our
biggest operations as a local
government.
“I’m confident we have secured
a great deal providing a
high quality waste collection
and recycling service to our
community long into the future.
“JJ Richards has a long and
proud history in the Toowoomba
Region with the company’s
first council contract awarded
by Toowoomba in 1962,” Cr
Sommerfield said.
In addition to the contract
recommended to be awarded to
JJ Richards, TRC also endorsed
the recommendation of a shortterm
one-year contract with
options to extend to Re.Group
for the provision of recycling
processing services.
Stewart confirmed New
Acland Stage 3 stacks up
environmentally, socially and
financially, the project is just
waiting on the Queensland
Minister for Water, Glenn
Butcher to grant the project an
Associated Water Licence.
It is understood the Minister
has been in possession of an
application for the water licence
for three years.
New Acland Mine General
Manager, Dave O’Dwyer said
the AWL will enable a restart
of operations and employment
opportunities for hundreds of
local workers and suppliers.
“At the peak of construction,
there will be close to 600 local
workers on site at New Acland
Mine,” Mr O’Dwyer said.
“Throughout the life of
the project, the permanent
workforce will be approximately
400 full-time roles, made up of
Darling Downs locals.
He said those seeking work
should visit the New Hope
Group website and register their
interest for a role at New Acland
Mine.
Council renews waste contract
with long standing JJ Richards
FIRST COUNCIL CONTRACT AWARDED in 1962
“The short-term contract was
recommended to be awarded for
recycling processing services
because TRC intends to provide
for a Materials Recovery Facility
in the very-near future which will
eventually result in cost-savings
to Council for the transport
Cr SOMMERFIELD
Community benefit
Dam at Acland mine for treated water from Toowoomba
“Once the project is under
way, we’ll need truck drivers,
engineers, electricians,
operators, administration staff
and mechanics.
“Unlike a lot of other mines in
Queensland, New Acland Mine
does not engage fly-in, fly-out
workers, with more than 90 pe
cent of our previous workforce
living within 50km of the site.
“Local businesses can
also express their interest in
supplying goods and services at
New Acland Mine online.”
of recoverable material which
currently occurs. I look forward
to the community benefitting
from the contracts negotiated
by TRC subject to Council’s
full endorsement at the meeting
on Tuesday, September 20,” Cr
Sommerfield said.
The Associated Water Licence
provides a framework on how
the mine is to interact with water
on the site.
The mining operation does
not use any onsite water for its
operations.
It takes all of its water for coal
washing and other uses from
Toowoomba’s Wetalla water
treatment plant at a cost of about
$10 million a year.
- Miles Noller reporting
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The display includes plants
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HIGH COUNTRY HERALD - SEPTEMBER 20, 2022 - 3