Jobseekers and local businesses are welcome to join an $896 million coal mine reopening in Queensland’s Darling Downs region.
New Hope Group recently invited former employees, contractors, suppliers and anyone else interested in working for its New Acland Coal Stage 3 Expansion – 53km northwest of Toowoomba.
Mine general manager Dave O’Dwyer confirmed initially between 320 and 400 positions will be available as soon as the State Government grants the final associated water licence. Further jobs will be advertised during the ramp-up phase.
“That is what we want to rebuild back to. Approvals that we have allow us to go to a larger operation, which would be 400 employees [and] during construction that would see a workforce of around 600,” he said at a press conference.
“There will be all sorts of jobs, we will be looking for everything. We currently have 20 people out on site, the care and maintenance crew. We need to rebuild our entire workforce – that will be operators, maintainers, engineers, geologists, admin staff and safety professionals.”
O’Dwyer is also searching for contractors and suppliers, especially those based in Oakey and the surrounding area.
“We have contractors on site and we will still be looking for those. Expressions of interest (EOIs) that we opened include EOIs for suppliers as well and we want to hear from everybody in the local area,” he said.
The mining boss revealed the first selection process will target skilled and experienced applicants. Previous employees will be highly desirable.
“We are very interested to hear from past employees, we know they have got the best resumes out there [and] we have seen them work on our mine sites,” he said.
“We want to hear from them as well but we want to hear from everyone who is interested in working for New Hope.”
Inexperienced candidates will be considered during future application rounds.
“We have always been very proud of our apprenticeship program and that will definitely kick off soon after we start. Also our trainee program will train people into the industry,” O’Dwyer said.
He promised successful applicants will have long-term job security.
“The coal supply is there for 10 to 15 years … [and] the lease we have covers a lot of ground and approvals cover us for up to 25 years to cover that ground,” O’Dwyer said.
“This time we will not be hiring until we are assured of our approvals.”
Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise (TBSE) applauded the proponent and State Government for creating hundreds of jobs.
“Hopefully, we will get this associated water licence, which would mean Oakey has a huge new lease on life for their workforce,” TSBE CEO Ali Davenport said.
“It will be great news for Oakey.”
QMEB understands the mine is unlikely to engage fly-in fly-out workers since more than 90 per cent of its original workforce lived within 50km of the site.
Related articles
Mining boss will reopen $896M coal expansion ‘ASAP’
$896M coal expansion will reopen ‘promptly’ says mining boss
Employer will rehire axed workers at delayed $896M coal expansion
Another mining boss jumps ship after $896M coal expansion delays.
Add Comment