System rules

Status
Past review

System rules elaborate on the network management principles in the access undertaking. They specify the way Aurizon Network will plan, schedule and control the operation of train services on the coal systems, and demonstrate capacity.

Aurizon Network’s 2010 access undertaking required it to seek the QCA’s approval for any system rules that it proposes to make for an individual coal system in the central Queensland coal region.

Northern Bowen Basin System Rules

On 5 August 2013, Aurizon Network submitted draft system rules to us for approval for the northern Bowen Basin (NBB), which includes the Goonyella, Newlands, and Goonyella to Abbot Point (GAP) systems.

The draft NBB system rules superseded the draft Goonyella rules, which were previously submitted to us on 30 June 2011.

On 17 September 2015, we formed the preliminary position that we would refuse to approve Aurizon Network’s draft Northern Bowen Basin system rules, for the reasons set out in our position paper.

We sought submissions on our position paper and provided an extended period for submissions, noting we anticipated this extended consultation period would allow Aurizon Network to resubmit NBB system rules that take into account our position paper and stakeholders’ submissions when UT4 commences.

In response, we received letters from two stakeholders indicating their intention to defer any further work on the Northern Bowen Basin system rules until after the approval of UT4. We also received three submissions on our position paper. All five documents are published below.

Report and papers

Title Document
29 April 2016 Submission Anglo American – Submission on position paper pdf, 138.73 Kb
29 April 2016 Submission Asciano – Submission on position paper pdf, 101.26 Kb
29 April 2016 Submission Glencore – Submission on position paper pdf, 79.43 Kb
20 April 2016 Submission Aurizon Network – deferral letter pdf, 654.42 Kb
19 April 2016 Submission BMA – deferral letter pdf, 249.05 Kb
Title Document
21 September 2015 Other papers QCA – Position paper draft NBB system rules pdf, 1.52 Mb
21 September 2015 Other documents QCA – Letter to Aurizon Network pdf, 176.16 Kb
Title Document
18 July 2014 Submission Aurizon Network – Response to Indec Report pdf, 359.43 Kb
27 June 2014 Consultant report Indec Consulting – Review of NBB draft system rules pdf, 1.43 Mb
Title Document
08 September 2014 Submission Anglo American – Submission on Indec Report pdf, 187.10 Kb
08 January 2014 Submission Anglo American – Further submission pdf, 85.95 Kb
16 September 2013 Submission Anglo American pdf, 106.04 Kb
16 September 2013 Submission Asciano pdf, 172.13 Kb
16 September 2013 Submission BMA pdf, 2.25 Mb
16 September 2013 Submission Peabody pdf, 176.18 Kb
16 September 2013 Submission Vale pdf, 929.60 Kb
07 September 2013 Submission Glencore pdf, 1.03 Mb
Title Document
16 August 2013 Submission Aurizon Network – System Rules Northern Bowen Basin Coal Systems pdf, 2.62 Mb
15 August 2013 Submission Aurizon Network – Letter re – Northern Bowen Basin pdf, 523.73 Kb

Goonyella System Rules

On 30 June 2011, Aurizon Network submitted draft system rules to us for approval for the Goonyella system.

On 28 October 2013, Aurizon Network withdrew its draft Goonyella system rules, as it said that the draft northern Bowen Basin system rules, which it had subsequently submitted to us for approval, superseded the Goonyella rules.

Report and papers

Title Document
14 October 2013 Submission Aurizon Network: Withdrawal of Draft Goonyella System Rules pdf, 1.37 Mb
17 June 2011 Submission QR Network: Goonyella Coal Chain pdf, 561.15 Kb
17 June 2011 Submission QR Network: Explanatory Notes pdf, 1.41 Mb
17 June 2011 Submission QR Network – Letter: Goonyella System Rules pdf, 422.11 Kb
Title Document
16 September 2011 Submission Anglo pdf, 40.47 Kb
16 September 2011 Submission Asciano pdf, 151.97 Kb
16 September 2011 Submission BMA and BMC pdf, 339.16 Kb
16 September 2011 Submission Isaac Plains Coal pdf, 249.70 Kb
16 September 2011 Submission Peabody pdf, 168.76 Kb
16 September 2011 Submission Vale pdf, 33.67 Kb
15 August 2011 Submission DBCT Pty Ltd pdf, 382.13 Kb
15 August 2011 Submission Macarthur Coal pdf, 361.04 Kb
15 August 2011 Submission Rio Tinto pdf, 93.28 Kb
15 August 2011 Submission Xstrata pdf, 40.30 Kb

Capricornia System Rules

On 27 February 2014, the QCA made a final decision to refuse to approve Aurizon Network’s draft Capricornia system rules, setting out how Aurizon Network should amend the proposal.

Aurizon Network subsequently submitted an amended proposal.  While we note the resubmitted Capricornia system rules are not exactly in the form set out in our final decision, we are satisfied they otherwise address the reasons for the refusal to approve in a satisfactory manner.

We consider the resubmitted rules to be consistent with our final decision and we have approved the resubmitted Capricornia system rules.

The Capricornia system rules apply from 21 May 2014 and can be downloaded below.

On 24 April 2013, we made a draft decision to refuse to approve Aurizon Network’s draft Capricornia system rules, that included proposed amendments to the rules.
We received five submissions on the draft decision.  Aurizon Network’s submission included a revised set of system rules that Aurizon Network considered would address the issues raised by us. We provided an opportunity for stakeholders to comment on key elements of these revised rules.  Four submissions were received on the revised rules.

On 31 August 2011, Aurizon Network submitted draft system rules for us to approval for the Capricornia coal system, which includes the Blackwater and Moura systems in the southern Bowen Basin.  The proposed rules included:

  • an approach for how, and in what form, long-term capacity-related information would be provided to access holders and other supply chain participants
  • a train-planning process that Aurizon Network would use to schedule train orders
  • mechanisms to provide train paths at other times when capacity is needed for maintenance and construction activities
  • methods to manage requests to amend the train schedule before the day of operation
  • approaches to managing emergency issues, and delays and cancellations of train services
  • a dispute resolution framework for determining the causes of delays and cancellations of train services.

Report and papers

Title Document
21 May 2014 Submission Capricornia System Rules pdf, 1.34 Mb
21 May 2014 Final report QCA Approval Letter pdf, 238.51 Kb
21 May 2014 Final report Comparison – final decision and resubmission pdf, 1.52 Mb
28 April 2014 Submission Aurizon Network Letter pdf, 1.25 Mb
Title Document
03 March 2014 Final report QCA – Capricornia System Rules Final Decision pdf, 878.35 Kb
03 March 2014 Final report QCA – Capricornia System Rules Final Decision – Appendix A – Markup pdf, 1.10 Mb
Title Document
14 October 2013 Submission Asciano pdf, 180.15 Kb
14 October 2013 Submission Anglo American pdf, 87.48 Kb
14 October 2013 Submission CS Energy pdf, 160.37 Kb
14 October 2013 Submission Glencore pdf, 165.38 Kb
16 September 2013 Other documents QCA – Letter re – Capricornia system rules changes pdf, 403.76 Kb
Title Document
16 August 2013 Submission Anglo American pdf, 91.72 Kb
16 August 2013 Submission Asciano pdf, 281.33 Kb
16 August 2013 Submission Aurizon Network – Covering Letter pdf, 195.91 Kb
16 August 2013 Submission Aurizon Network – Response to Draft Decision pdf, 372.34 Kb
16 August 2013 Submission Aurizon Network – Revised Capricornia System Rules pdf, 1.47 Mb
16 August 2013 Submission CS Energy pdf, 468.05 Kb
16 August 2013 Submission Stanwell pdf, 940.00 Kb
Title Document
15 April 2013 Draft report QCA – Draft Decision pdf, 636.79 Kb
15 October 2012 Consultant report Femol International Pty Ltd – Assessment of QR Network Draft System Rules Capricornia Coal Chain pdf, 828.28 Kb
Title Document
14 October 2011 Submission Asciano pdf, 154.56 Kb
14 October 2011 Submission BMA and BMC pdf, 1.54 Mb
14 October 2011 Submission Rio Tinto pdf, 25.45 Kb
Title Document
15 August 2011 Submission QR Network – Letter re – Capricornia System Rules pdf, 248.11 Kb
15 August 2011 Submission R QR Network – SystemRules – Capricornia Coal Chain pdf, 664.55 Kb