New coal mine proposed near Hamilton

The proposed mine site near Hamilton.

A PROPOSED open cut coal mine near Hamilton in the upper Derwent Valley is being assessed by Tasmania's Environmental Protection Agency. Indicoal Mining Australia Pty Ltd proposes a new open cut mine 4km west of Hamilton.

The Langloh Open Cut Coal Mine would cover about 385 hectares be adjacent to the existing Kimbolton mine off the Lyell Highway. The project could supply both domestic and export customers over a period of about eight years.

The new mine is planned to have an annual production of 900,000 tonnes of thermal coal. Raw coal would most likely be transported to port at Bell Bay, with transport by truck, train and barge being investigated. More information about the project can be found at the Environment Department website.

Coal was discovered at Langloh, between Hamilton and Ouse, in 1849 but commercial mining did not start until 1938 when the Langloh Coal Mining Company started underground extraction. This continued until 1942 when the lease was transferred to the Hamilton Coal Company which mined the site until 1963.