Aurizon Network is a wholly owned subsidiary of Aurizon Holdings Limited, which was privatised in November 2010 and manages Australia’s largest coal export rail network, the central Queensland coal network (CQCN).
The CQCN is declared for third-party access in accordance with Part 5 of the QCA Act, and Aurizon Network must allow third-party train operators to use its network.
Aurizon Network’s access undertaking establishes the framework for access to the coal rail infrastructure in central Queensland. Anyone who wants to apply for access to that rail network must follow the process in the access undertaking.
Aurizon Network’s rail systems
Aurizon Network’s access undertaking applies to the five rail systems that comprise the central Queensland coal network.
The Moura system means the rail infrastructure comprising the rail corridor from the port of Gladstone (including domestic coal terminals in the vicinity of Gladstone) to Moura mine and the loading facility for Baralaba mine in the vicinity of Moura mine, and all branch lines directly connecting coal mine loading facilities to that corridor but excluding the corridor to Blackwater (and beyond).
The Moura system is coupled with the Blackwater system to form the Capricornia Coal Chain. It is located in central Queensland, south west of Gladstone. The system’s coal is transported to Gladstone Power Station, Comalco Refinery (Rio Tinto Alcan), Queensland Alumina Limited (QAL) and Cement Australia and the RG Tanna and Barney Point coal terminals at the port of Gladstone.
In future, the system’s coal is also expected to be transported to the proposed Wiggins Island Coal Export Terminal (WICET) at Gladstone.
The Blackwater system refers to the rail infrastructure comprising the rail corridor from the port of Gladstone (including domestic coal terminals in the vicinity of Gladstone) to Gregory, Minerva and Rolleston mines, and all branch lines directly connecting coal mine loading facilities to those corridors, with the exception of the corridor to Oaky Creek (and beyond) and the corridor to the Moura mine (and beyond).
The Blackwater system is located in central Queensland, and services the Bowen Basin coal region. This system links mines to the two export terminals at the port of Gladstone; RG Tanna Coal Terminal, and Barney Point Coal Terminal. The Blackwater system also services a number of domestic users including Stanwell and Gladstone power stations, Cement Australia and the Comalco Refinery (Rio Tinto Alcan).
In future, the system’s coal is also expected to be transported to the proposed Wiggins Island Coal Export Terminal (WICET) at Gladstone.
The Goonyella system is the rail infrastructure comprising the rail corridor from the ports of Hay Point and Dalrymple Bay to Hail Creek mine, Blair Athol mine, North Goonyella mine and the junction with the Gregory mine branch line, and all branch lines directly connecting coal mine loading facilities to those corridors, with the exception of the branch line to Gregory mine and the corridor beyond North Goonyella mine to Newlands mine (and beyond).
The Goonyella system is located in central Queensland, and services the Bowen Basin coal region. It carries coal to the Hay Point Coal Terminal and Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal (at the port of Hay Point), as well as products to other destinations by way of connections to the North Coast Line at Yukan and the Central Line via Gregory to Burngrove.
The Newlands system is the rail infrastructure comprising the rail corridor from the port of Abbot Point to Newlands mine, and all branch lines directly connecting coal mine loading facilities to that corridor, with the exception of the corridor between the Newlands mine and the North Goonyella mine (and beyond).
The Newlands system is located at the northern end of the Bowen Basin in North Queensland. It incorporates part of the North Coast Line between Durroburra and Kaili, as well as the line to the port at Abbot Point.
The system services mines conveying export coal to Abbot Point Coal Terminal and domestic coal to the Queensland Nickel Refinery and the Bowen Coke Works.
The GAP system refers to the Northern Missing Link and that part of any other individual coal system that is used by a train service that also uses or connects to any part of the Northern Missing Link, except where that train service originates or terminates south of Gregory. The Northern Missing Link refers to the rail infrastructure comprising the rail corridor between the North Goonyella mine and the Newlands mine, and all branch lines directly connecting coal mine loading facilities to that corridor.
The GAP system was accepted as a new coal system within the central Queensland coal network after the QCA’s decision in September 2013 to approve Aurizon Network’s June 2013 GAPE (Goonyella to Abbot Point Expansion) draft amending access undertaking.
The GAP system provides for the use of the Northern Missing Link to deliver coal to either the port at Abbot Point or the port at Hay Point (the Hay Point Coal Terminal and the Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal).
Current access undertaking
The 2017 access undertaking (UT5) sets out the general terms and conditions under which Aurizon Network provides access to its rail infrastructure in central Queensland. It also sets out the process for an access seeker to negotiate access to the infrastructure, and to resolve any disputes in relation to access.
The 2017 access undertaking replaced the 2016 access undertaking on 21 February 2019 and is due to expire on 30 June 2027.