New Acland Mine General Manager Dave O’Dwyer said the 100th worker milestone was 16 years in the making.
“It’s a landmark day for the entire team at New Acland Mine, but there are plenty more jobs to come,” Mr O’Dwyer said.
“The ramp-up is well underway, with the permanent, fulltime workforce forecast to reach 400 workers within the next two years.
“There are plenty of new, old faces who have returned to New Acland Mine.
“Many were forced to find work in central Queensland when New Acland Mine was placed into care and maintenance in December 2021.
“It’s brilliant these workers have returned and can wave goodbye to the fly-in, fly-out lifestyle and be home with the partners and children every single night.
“We’re proud to be a leading employer in the region, by offering well-paid, local jobs to hard-working Queenslanders.”
Mark Van Dongen is one of dozens of former New Acland Mine workers who have returned for Stage 3.
“When I had to leave a few years ago and find work elsewhere, it was like a divorce. The New Acland Mine family was being forced to split up,” Mr Van Dongen said.
“Now me and many others are back and the family has been reunited. It’s brilliant.
“There is a completely different feel on site. Prior to being placed into care and maintenance, there was a lot of uncertainty, with my colleagues and their families unsure about the future. The anxiousness has been replaced by optimism, because families know Dad will be home from work every single night.”
Mark Lotz was forced to take a redundancy in 2021 when New Acland Mine was placed into care and maintenance.
“Everyone is positive, and everyone is looking at a bright future,” Mr Lotz said.
“The Queensland Government’s decision to approve the project has given everyone a sense of security.
“My family couldn’t be happier as we can plan for the future.”
New Acland Stage 3 is the most reviewed and scrutinised resources project in Queensland’s history.
The exhaustive, 16-year approvals process was overseen by multiple Queensland Government Ministers, countless, hardworking public servants and most recently independent experts who evaluated every aspect of the project and found New Acland Stage 3 stacks up environmentally, socially and financially.
The Land Court process, the Coordinator General’s extensive consultation process, the separate independent assessments of the Queensland Department of Environment and Science and the Minister for Resources and the thorough examination by the Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water has allowed everyone, including the mine’s objectors, to be heard.
At the peak of construction there will be close to 600 local workers in site at New Acland Mine. Throughout the life of the project, the permanent workforce will be approximately 400 full-time roles.