Queensland coal miners, long frustrated by bottlenecks at export ports, may be seeing light at the end of the tunnel following the announcement of the go-ahead for the Wiggins Island coal terminal near the port of Gladstone.

“The Coordinator-General has approved the environmental impact statement, subject to conditions, for the $3.5 billion Wiggins Island Coal Terminal,” acting Queensland Premier Paul Lucas said.

The Central Queensland Port Authority plans to build the terminal in three stages.

Plans are in place for Stage 1, valued at over $1.3 billion, to be completed by 2012. With the potential to increase Gladstone’s coal exports by up to 25 million tonnes, extra export income could be worth up to $1.8 billion per year.

CQ Port Authority and Queensland Rail plan to spend another $2.2 billion on stages 2 and 3.

"The three-stage terminal has been designed to cope with up to 84 million tonnes a year. More than 20 coal companies have already expressed interest in any extra capacity we can provide.

"Gladstone will be exporting up to 150 million tonnes a year when all three stages of Wiggins Island are complete," Mr Lucas said.

The Queensland Government’s Department of Infrastructure and Planning has announced its intention to begin the environmental investigation process for the $500 million Moura link–Aldoga rail project, to transport coal to the new Wiggins Island facility.

Providing final endorsement is given by the Federal Government after the resolution of environmental issues, construction of the Wiggins Island coal terminal could begin in early 2009.