An almost $800 million critical minerals mine in north-west Queensland has gained coordinated project status, which will streamline a raft of approvals.
State Development Minister Grace Grace said the Vecco Critical Minerals Project, which includes a greenfield vanadium, high purity alumina and molybdenum mine, was a major renewable energy initiative.
Minister Grace said the coordinated project declaration from Queensland’s Coordinator-General now paved the way for multiple environmental approvals.
She said the $798 million project would see an open-cut mine built around 70km north of Julia Creek, along with a critical minerals processing plant.
“The plant would supply minerals for use in the local manufacture in Townsville of rechargeable batteries for grid scale energy,” she said.
Minister Grace said the project was predicted to create up to 300 jobs over the construction period, and up to 274 jobs during the mine’s operational phase.
“Pending approvals, construction on the project is anticipated to start in 2025, with the operational phase expected to begin in late 2026.”
She said the declaration allowed the Coordinator-General to facilitate environmental approvals from the Queensland and Australian governments.
Queensland Coordinator-General Gerard Coggan said it was important to facilitate and responsibly progress projects that helped transition Queensland’s economy.
“The community and stakeholders should have a say in evaluating the economic, social, and environmental effects. The coordinated project declaration allows this to happen in a consistent and considered and sequenced way,” Mr Coggan said.
