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North Galilee Basin Rail Project

Project overview*

EIS status Approved with conditions
Description An approximately 310 kilometre standard gauge, greenfield rail line in Central Queensland, connecting the northern Galilee Basin to the Port of Abbot Point.
Proponent Carmichael Rail Network Pty Ltd a wholly owned subsidiary of Adani Australia, part of the Adani Group.
Location/s The southern end of the rail line would connect with rail infrastructure proposed as part of the Carmichael Coal Mine and Rail Project in the vicinity of Mistake Creek (west of Moranbah) and would run north to the Port of Abbot Point (near Bowen). Map
Local government/s
  • Isaac Regional Council
  • Whitsunday Regional Council
Investment $2.2 billion
Key features A 100 metre-wide rail corridor (to be refined from a one kilometre-wide investigation corridor) containing rail infrastructure scalable to 100 million tonnes per annum capacity, including:
  • passing loops
  • road and rolling stock maintenance facilities
  • water supply pipeline
  • track and signalling maintenance facilities
  • staff accommodation and training facilities.
Jobs
  • Up to 2017 (construction)
  • Up to 369 (operational)

* Project information supplied by proponent and subject to change.

Environmental impact statement (EIS) process

Date Activity
11 August 2017 The Coordinator-General fixed a new lapse date for the Coordinator-General's evaluation report for the project to 14 August 2019.
14 October 2015 Commonwealth Minister for the Environment's approval of 'controlled action' subject to conditions following re-consideration of project under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
23 September 2014 Commonwealth Minister for the Environment's approval of 'controlled action' subject to conditions.
12 August 2014 Coordinator-General's Report for the North Galilee Basin Rail project (PDF icon 2.4 MB) released.
22 April 2014 to 19 May 2014 Additional information to EIS assessed by other government agencies.**
12 March 2014 Additional information to EIS requested by Coordinator-General.
16 December 2013 to
11 February 2014
EIS public consultation
23 August 2013 Terms of reference (PDF icon 567 KB) released.
13 July 2013 to
12 August 2013
Draft terms of reference for EIS public consultation.
27 June 2013 Project deemed a 'controlled action' by Commonwealth Minister for the Environment. More information
14 June 2013 Gazettal of 'coordinated project' declaration (PDF icon 79 KB)
31 May 2013 Final application, including initial advice statement (PDF icon 1.7 MB), submitted.
30 May 2013 Project referred to Commonwealth Minister for the Environment.

** The electronic versions of these documents have been supplied by the proponent, following approval by the Coordinator-General.

Read more about the EIS process.

Further information

For more information, visit the North Galilee Basin Rail Project web page.

Media releases

Last updated: 09 Nov 2021