Queensland’s Minister for State Development Dr Anthony Lynham has called for expressions of interest from companies interested in tendering for construction work on the expansion of the Abbot Point port, located 25 km north-west of Bowen.
The project, which last month entered in the environmental impact statement (EIS) stage, currently has a capacity of 50 million tonnes per annum. The proposed expansion will increase the port’s capacity by 70 million tonnes per annum to cater for additional coal from the Galilee basin, including Adani Mining’s proposed Carmichael Mine.
“We are calling for expressions of interest from suitably qualified companies to undertake the dredging works and construct the dredged material containment ponds required to expand the Port of Abbot Point,” Dr Lynham said in a media statement on Wednesday, adding that the undertaking would generate up to 155 jobs for about six months.
“The great majority of this workforce is expected to be sourced locally and these workers will be housed in towns around Abbot Point, including Bowen, providing a much-needed economic boost to these communities. In the meantime, work is steadily progressing on EIS.”
He said the Palaszczuk Government was adopting a balanced approach to deliver vital infrastructure for Queensland’s economic future and protect the environment, including the Great Barrier Reef.
“That’s why we canned the Newman Government’s plan to dump dredge spoil in the Caley Valley Wetlands and will instead place dredged material on unused industrial land next to the existing coal terminal.”
Dr Lynham said North Queensland Bulk Ports would engage a contractor after all approvals were obtained, including from the Commonwealth Government on the EIS.
“Tendering can be lengthy and detailed. We are kicking off the process now so we can be ready should we receive approval for the project,” he said.
The EOI closes on 13 July 2015, after which shortlisted contractors will be invited to tender with a view to having a preferred contractor well within the second half of 2015.
