Features and articles

Construction Completed on Middlemount Rail Spur

Construction has now been completed on a 16.5km rail spur directly linking the Middlemount Coal Project to the Goonyella rail network, enabling exports through Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal (DBCT).

The commencement of rail haulage is a significant milestone for the Middlemount Project, a joint venture between Macarthur Coal and Gloucester Coal.

The rail spur’s completion also marks the first time in Queensland that a private company has delivered a privately-owned rail line that connects to the publicly-owned rail network.

Completion of the rail spur also marks the commencement of ongoing operations for the Middlemount Coal Project and the progressive ramp up of coal production.

Initial exports from the project will be via existing port capacity allocation at DBCT, however the project will have long-term port capacity access at Abbott Point following completion of the Northern Missing Link which is expected to be commissioned in January 2012.

Despite the project’s timing having been affected by the extensive wet season in 2010/2011, the Middlemount Early Rail Alliance (MERA), consisting of GHD and John Holland Group, completed construction of the rail spur one month ahead of the revised schedule.

The Environmental Impact Study process for the expansion of the Middlemount Coal Project from 1.8 million tonnes per annum to up to 5.4 million tonnes ROM has been completed and final approval for the increased production is expected by mid-2012 calendar year.

Exciting New Chapter Begins for Macarthur Coal

An exciting new chapter has begun for Macarthur Coal with Peabody Energy Corporation’s acquisition of a controlling interest in the Company.

Julian Thornton, previously Managing Director of Peabody Energy Australia, has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of Macarthur Coal.

Four other new members were appointed to the Macarthur Board of Directors and each of the following highly experienced industry leaders will advance the company’s growth and operational objectives:

• Eric Ford, Peabody Energy Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, who joins the Macarthur Board as Chairman.
• Michael C. Crews, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Peabody Energy.
• Paul Dowd, who joins as a Non-Executive Director. Dowd is a 40-year mining veteran who developed businesses and managed mining operations in Australia, the United States, Africa, Europe and Asia.
• John M. Spark, who joins as a Non-Executive Director. Spark is a former Managing Partner of Ferrier Hodgson, a Melbourne, Australia-based turnaround, reconstruction and forensics services firm, and a former Global Partner of Arthur Andersen, based in Melbourne.

Peabody Energy has significant experience in both open cut and underground mining and proven ability in greenfield and brownfield project development – both of which will facilitate the realisation of Macarthur’s future growth potential.

Macarthur now has the opportunity to draw upon Peabody’s global financial and technical capabilities and breadth of scale in the development of its projects in Queensland’s Bowen Basin.

Peabody’s acquisition of a controlling interest in Macarthur Coal creates significant value for employees, customers and shareholders of each organisation by allowing for a larger, stronger and further diversified product offering to serve the world’s fastest-growing markets.

More Benefits Than Ever to Macarthur Career

Macarthur Coal has recently introduced enhancements to some of the many benefits aimed at ensuring optimal health and well-being, career development and financial security for Macarthur employees and their families.

A policy decision to offer benefits above the statutory requirement for paid parental leave means that from July 1 2011, in addition to the government's statutory paid parental leave, Macarthur provides eligible employees with 18 weeks paid parental leave up to the employee's total base salary or $100,000, whichever is the lesser.

Also from July 1, employees now have the opportunity to purchase additional annual leave of up to two weeks’ leave over the course of six months, or four weeks’ leave over the course of twelve months. The Additional annual leave is paid for by a reduction in the employee’s salary over the course of time it is purchased.

Macarthur’s Healthy Bodies Program, launched in 2009, provides each full-time employee with an annual subsidy of $1,500 towards fitness and well-being activities and services including gym membership, personal training, massage, chiropractic and acupuncture.

In FY2011, the subsidy has been expanded to include the purchase of exercise equipment, offering employees even more flexibility as they pursue their individual health and fitness goals.

Macarthur undertakes regular reviews of its employee benefits as it strives to be an employer of choice. Other Highlights of Macarthur’s employee value proposition are:

Professional and career development initiatives including:

• structured career development plans
• study and assistance leave
• professional membership subscription.