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Wetalla Water Pipeline

Project overview*

EIS statusApproved with conditions
DescriptionA 45-kilometre underground water pipeline to supply up to 5500 megalitres of treated waste water to the New Acland coal mine, which is earmarked for expansion.
ProponentNew Acland Coal Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of New Hope Corporation Limited
Location/sThe pipeline will run from the Wetalla Wastewater Reclamation Facility in Toowoomba to the mine, 35 km north-west of the city. Map
Local Government/sToowoomba Regional Council
Key features
  • water pipeline
  • raw water dam
  • storage tanks
  • pump station
  • 750 KV transformer
  • surge tower

* Project information supplied by proponent and subject to change.

Pipeline part of larger project

The Wetalla Water Pipeline is one of the components of the New  Acland Coal Mine Stage 3 Expansion Project, which aims to expand the mine's production from 4.8 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) to up to 7.5 mtpa.

Construction of the water pipeline was expedited by the proponent, in accordance with section 32(1)(b) of the State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971.

This section of the Act allows proponents to prepare a separate environmental impact statement (EIS) that addresses the terms of reference relating to a particular component of the project.

Please note: although the water pipeline EIS is separate to the EIS for the remainder of the project, all of the project's components are covered in the same initial advice statement and terms of reference for the EIS.

Read more about the New Acland Coal Mine Stage 3 Expansion Project.

Environmental impact statement (EIS) process

DateActivity
19 December 2008Coordinator-General's report on Wetalla Water Pipeline Project EIS (PDF icon 755 KB) released.
31 October 2008Wetalla Water Pipeline Project supplementary EIS submitted. To obtain a copy, contact the proponent.
12 July 2008 to
15 August 2008
Public consultation on Wetalla Water Pipeline Project EIS.
26 March 2008Project not deemed a controlled action by Commonwealth Minister for the Environment. More information
24 October 2007Terms of reference for EIS (PDF icon 575 KB) released.
21 July 2007 to
20 August 2007
Public consultation on draft terms of reference for EIS.
18 May 2007Gazettal of 'significant project' declaration (PDF icon 177 KB)
24 April 2007Application, including initial advice statement (PDF icon 483 KB), submitted.
23 April 2007Project referred to Commonwealth Minister for the Environment.

Read more about the EIS process.

Last updated: 09 Nov 2021