Mines Minister Anthony Lynham said he expected a final recommendation from the Coordinator-General within several weeks as to whether MMG’s zinc project will be given the status of a ‘prescribed project’.

If Dugald River becomes a prescribed project it will speed the red tape process and allows the Coordinator-General to intervene in the approvals process. 

“The Coordinator-General advises me that the project is eligible, which would bring in his team to help secure the final approvals needed across government,” Dr Lynham said. 

MMG advised him the construction could begin halfway through this year and would create 600 jobs during that stage. 

There would be 500 jobs when the mine is operational. It will include a concentrator processing plant, maintenance workshops, accommodation and administration, and road, rail and port logistics, Dr Lynham said. 

The Australia Venus Resource’s Korella Phosphate Mine is also under consideration to become a prescribed project. 

The mine is 170 kilometres from Mount Isa and is scheduled to start production in May. 

It would support about 100 jobs including 40 in mining, according to the Mines Minister. 

Dr Lynham was in Mount Isa, Burketown and Karumba. He attended the Working Queensland Cabinet Subcommittee in Mount Isa with five cabinet ministers including Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.