Herald 20221018

More than 780 seek work at Acland mine
Hundreds of people want to
work at the New Acland coal
mine, should it receive final
approval for its stage 3 project
from the State Government.
New Hope Group has received
784 expressions of interest for
jobs at New Acland Mine in the
past month.
Since launching an online
portal in mid-September, New
Hope Group has received 719
expressions of interest from
workers and 65 expressions of
interest from businesses eager to
supply goods and services once
New Acland Stage 3 is approved.
The general manager of
the New Acland mine, Dave
O’Dwyer said that of the 719
expressions of interest for roles
at New Acland Mine - 447 were
from the Darling Downs - 170
were from the 4350 postcode
(includes Toowoomba - 158
were from the 4352 postcode
(includes Highfields, Kulpi, etc.
- 78 were of interest from the
4401 postcode (Oakey) - 695
were from Queensland - 177
expressions of interest were
from past New Acland Mine
workers.
Mr O’Dwyer said there were
expressions of interest from 65
suppliers wanting to provide
goods and services:-
· 36 of these suppliers were
from Darling Downs postcodes
(includes Toowoomba, Oakey,
etc.);
· 25 were from Brisbane
postcodes;
· 61 were from Queensland.
Mr O’Dwyer said the number
of expressions of interest in the
past month proves there is a
thirst for well paid, local jobs.
“The applications also
reinforce the fact the
overwhelming majority of the
local community, including
families, farmers and small
business owners want New
Acland Stage 3 to go ahead.
“Once the project is under
way, we’ll need truck drivers,
engineers, electricians,
operators, administration staff
and mechanics.
“At the peak of construction,
there will be close to 600 local
workers on site at New Acland
Mine.
“Throughout the life of
the project, the permanent
workforce will be approximately
400 full-time roles, made up of
Darling Downs locals.
“Unlike a lot of other mines in
Queensland, New Acland Mine
does not engage fly-in, fly-out
workers, with more than 90 per
cent of our previous workforce
living within 50km of the site.”
Mr O’Dwyer said some
applicants were from central
Queensland who wanted to get
closer to home.
Workers and local businesses
can register their interest in a
job at New Acland Mine by
visiting https://newhopegroup.
com.au/current-expressionsof-interest/
Once approved,
local workers, contractors and
In the Caterpillar equipment workshop at Hastings Deering in Toowoomba are some of their tradesmen, with Justin Butcher
(top of ladder) the company’s Toowoomba Operations Manager, and with him, Dave O’Dwyer, the general manager of the
New Acland mine. Mr O’Dwyer announced that more than 700 people had responded to an opportunity to seek work at Acland
when Stage 3 of the mine is granted all approvals.
local businesses will benefit to
the tune of $1billion over the
life of the New Acland Stage
3 project. New Hope Group
remains focused on securing
the remaining primary approval
required for New Acland
Stage 3, an Associated Water
Licence from the department
administered by Queensland
Minister for Water, Glenn
Butcher as soon as possible.
New Acland Mine General
Manager, Dave O’Dwyer said
an AWL will enable a restart
of operations and employment
opportunities for hundreds of
local workers and suppliers.
- Miles Noller reporting
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HIGH COUNTRY HERALD - OCTOBER 18, 2022 - 5