Queensland Parliament has passed legislation to secure the viability of Glenden, a mining town in central Queensland.
Under the legislative changes, QCoal Group will be granted a mining lease to operate a temporary workers camp for its new Byerwen coal mine in the Bowen Basin.
QCoal will progressively move workers from the temporary camp into housing at Glenden from 2025, with closure of the camp scheduled for 2029.
Currently home to less than 500 residents, the move will support the Glenden township and its businesses with the added influx of miners from the Byerwen mine.
The decision also brings certainty for the Byerwen project, securing hundreds of jobs.
The Queensland Government has said it will work with all stakeholders to develop an implementation plan in the first six months.
Queensland Resources Minister Scott Stewart welcomed the plan, thanking QCoal and the Isaac regional council for their input in its development.
“As a Government we always want to see rural Queensland towns benefit economically and socially from the resource projects that operate in their backyard,” Stewart said.
“I understand why people are so passionate about Glenden and its long-term future.
“This plan will mean QCoal can continue production at Byerwen knowing that their workforce has accommodation options.”
Glenden is a purpose-built mining community constructed in 1981 by the then owners of the Newlands coal mine (now Glencore) to house its employees.
Residents feared the town’s closure once the Newlands mine closed, but the Byerwen mine has renewed hopes of saving the township.
The Byerwen mine is an open-cut coal mine located 20km west of Glenden. It is projected to produce up to 10 million tonnes of hard coking coal per year, supporting up to 920 employees at peak production.