Acland

The New Acland open cut mine is located approximately 150 kilometres west of Brisbane in the Darling Downs region of Queensland. The mining method used at New Acland is an open cut multi-thin-seam operation which utilises trucks, excavators and front-end loaders. Overburden is blasted or ripped by bulldozers prior to extraction.

A multiple block extraction mining system is used to provide access to the coal and the process allows for different quality coals to be blended to meet product specification.

Geology
The Acland coal deposit is situated in the Clarence Moreton Basin within the lower Walloon Coal Measures and is similar to other Walloon coal deposits mined at New Oakleigh and formely Jeebropilly. The Acland-Sabine sequence, which is currently mined at New Acland is 30 metres to 60 metres thick and contains six seam groups nominated from the top to bottom as A to F with up to 10 plies within each group and 47 plies in all. The seam groups contain up to 18 metres of banded coal with an average thickness of the individual plies of 0.23 metres.

Markets
New Acland coals are supplied to overseas markets and power stations in South East Queensland.

Environment
New Acland's mining operations are undertaken on freehold land that is generally owned and controlled by the Group. Progressive rehabilitation is undertaken and systems are in place to ensure a high standard of environmental management at all New Hope operations.

Awards
The Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Mines awarded the Mines Inspectorate "Best Safety Management in Queensland - Southern Region" award to New Acland in 2003.