The contractor, LCR Group, has been working on the project since April last year, however 75 employees at the site will be made redundant after work on the mine’s rail line is completed. 

LCG Group chief executive officer Col Partington said LCR was engaged to conduct haulage of the product coal (loading, haulage, stockpile and train loading services) to the rail load-out terminal and all employees have worked hard, safely and efficiently throughout that time.

“The LCR project was always an interim haulage requirement until the new rail line and wash plant facility were completed at the Boggabri Coal Mine which looks to be completed now ahead of schedule,” Mr Partington said.

“This project is drawing to a close and with the current rail line construction expected to be completed by the end of 

December 2014 or early January 2015, LCR will commence demobilisation from the project as planned.”

LCR confirmed it had recently been awarded a short-term materials handling project associated with the coal handling and preparation plant (CHPP) at the Boggabri mine and is looking to engage some of the skills and people from the haulage operation into the CHPP operation.

Mr Partington said despite the haulage contract ending, the company was working to secure new contracts and there could be job opportunities for those who had been working on the haulage project.   

“LCR Group is tendering and looking at a number of alternative projects throughout Australia and, should it be successful with such, will endeavour to offer opportunities for current employees to such locations at the time of the award,” Mr Partington said.