Queensland fast-tracks major coal and gold projects

Queensland has fast-tracked two major mining projects — the Corvus metallurgical coal project (A$1.24bn) and the Big Vein South gold project (A$400m) — as part of a push to clear approval backlogs and restore investment confidence. Corvus aims to produce up to 10.5 mtpa of ultra-low-ash metallurgical coal over 25 years (infrastructure construction from 2027), largely for export via the Port of Gladstone. Big Vein South is scheduled to begin production in 2028, processing ~1.95 mtpa of ore to yield about 100,000 oz of gold doré annually. The moves are intended to create hundreds of construction and operational jobs and boost regional economic activity. Market impact: the policy accelerates supply-side development in coal and gold, bolsters mining-sector sentiment and regional investment confidence, and may modestly affect long-term commodity supply dynamics — supportive for miners but likely only a limited direct effect on global gold prices.