The proponent, QEM Limited proposes to develop the $1.096 billion Julia Creek Vanadium and Energy project. The project involves development of a greenfield vanadium and oil shale mine and processing plant. The project proposes to extract up to 5.3 million tonnes per annum of run-of-mine ore, with an onsite processing plant producing up to 10,571 tonnes per annum of vanadium pentoxide (vanadium) and up to 313 million litres per annum of transport fuel (such as diesel and/or aviation fuel), over a 30 year mine life. The project tenements include EPM 25662, EPM 25681, EPM 26429 and EPM 27057. QEM proposes to truck the vanadium to Townsville for domestic downstream processing into vanadium electrolyte, an input into vanadium redox flow batteries for grid scale energy storage.
The Coordinator-General declared the project a ‘coordinated project’, under section 26(1)(a) of the State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971 (SDPWO Act) (Qld), triggering the requirement for an environmental impact statement (EIS).
The draft terms of reference (TOR) for the EIS have been prepared by the Coordinator-General. You are invited to comment on whether the draft TOR covers all the matters QEM Limited must address when preparing the EIS. The Coordinator-General will consider all comments before finalising the TOR. On 23 December 2024, the Australian Minister for the Environment and Water determined that the project is likely to have a significant impact upon matters of national environmental significance and will require approval under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) (EPBC 2024/10012) before it can proceed. The controlling provisions include listed threatened species and communities (sections 18 and 18A). The project will be assessed by accredited assessment under the SDPWO Act. The Coordinator-General's EIS evaluation report will be provided to the Australian Minister for a separate decision under the EPBC Act.
How to comment
Comments on the draft TOR are invited from Saturday 26 April 2025 to Monday 26 May 2025.
For information about providing comments to the Coordinator-General, please refer to the fact sheet Have your say on draft terms of reference for an environmental impact statement and accompanying comment form, available online.
The draft TOR is available to view online at https://www.statedevelopment.qld.gov.au/cg/jcvep .
Should you require access to a computer to view the draft TOR or to make an electronic submission, please visit your local library during business hours, including the following venues:
• Julia Creek Library, 56 Burke Street, Julia Creek
• Richmond Shire Council Library, 52 Goldring Street, Richmond
• Cloncurry Bob McDonald Library, 43 Scarr Street, Cloncurry
• State Library of Queensland, Cultural Centre, Stanley Place, South Bank, Brisbane
• National Library of Australia, Parkes Place, Canberra.
Send your comments to the Coordinator-General using one of the following methods:
Online: https://www.statedevelopment.qld.gov.au/cg/jcvep
Email: jcvep@coordinatorgeneral.qld.gov.au Post: Attention: The Coordinator-General
c/- EIS Project Manager–Julia Creek Vanadium and Energy project Office of the Coordinator-General PO Box 15517 City East Qld 4002 Australia
COMMENTS CLOSE ON MONDAY 26 MAY 2025
Notes: While you are encouraged to use the comment form, it is not mandatory. Your comment, including any personal information you provide in connection with your comment, may be disclosed by the Coordinator-General to the project proponent and local, State and Australian government agencies. Your personal information will otherwise be dealt with in accordance with the Information Privacy Act 2009 (Qld). If you have special communication needs or any concerns about the sharing of information, telephone the EIS Project Manager on 1800 001... to make alternative submission arrangements. For public and administrative convenience, the Coordinator-General will receive all comments on behalf of the Queensland and Australian governments.
Brisbane 4000
