Leigh Creek Coal Mine

In June 2015 Alinta Energy informed the Government of South Australia of its business decision to close its Leigh Creek coal mine.

The mine's closure is linked to Alinta's decision to close the Port Augusta power stations, which were the only customers of the coal from the mine.

Operations at the Leigh Creek mine ceased on 17 November 2015 and planning began for the closure of the mine site.

On 1 January 2019, the site commenced a five year program of monitoring and maintenance activities to ensure  effectiveness of the rehabilitation strategies implemented during the closure of the mine site.

4 Crown Perpetual Leases (ETS 0) under the Electricity Trust of SA Act 1946.

The coalfield has small discrete basins with 13 coal seams of varying quality (geology, composition and calorific value):

• Lobe A (Copley Basin)
• Lobe B (Telford Basin)
• Lobe C
• Lobe D (Northfield)

The Mines and Works Inspection Act 1920 provides the framework for rehabilitation and closure of the mine site.

The Government of South Australia will ensure that Alinta complies with its obligations under the leasing arrangements and under the Act regarding the safe closure and rehabilitation of the Leigh Creek mine.

The Mine Closure Plan ('Development Program') was approved on 10 October 2017 and the revised Approved Development Program 2018 was approved 10 July 2018.

Approved Development Program 2018

• Main report for ADP 2018
  • Leigh Creek Coalfields Mine Closure Plan: Main report (PDF 32 MB)
• Appendices for ADP 2018  -  Leigh Creek Coalfields Mine Closure Plan: Appendices  A to KKKK 
  • Appendix A: Designs & figures - Vulcan data - Ick survey (PDF 130 MB)
  • Appendix A: Designs & figures - closure plan - map notes (PDF 86 MB)
  • Appendix A: Designs & figures - A3 figures & adjusted X sections (PDF 40 MB)
  • Appendices B to J (PDF 74 MB)
  • Appendices L to Q (PDF 174 MB)
  • Appendices R to T (PDF 97 MB)
  • Appendix U - Thermal imaging reports (catalogue) (PDF 70 MB)
  • Appendices V to Z (PDF 9 MB)
  • Appendices AA to HH (PDF 17 MB)
  • Appendix II (catalogue) (PDF 223 KB)
  • Appendices JJ to MM (PDF 22 MB)
  • Appendix NN (PDF 160 KB)
  • Appendix OO (PDF 113 MB)
  • Appendices PP to VV (PDF 108 MB)
  • Appendix WW to ZZ  (PDF 128 MB)
  • Appendices AAA to FFF (PDF 23 MB)
  • Appendices HHH to VVV (PDF 75 MB)
  • Appendices XXX to ZZZ (PDF 4 MB)
  • Appendices AAAA to FFFF (PDF 67 MB)
  • Appendix GGGG (PDF 68 MB)
  • Appendices HHHH to KKKK (PDF 9 MB)

Please note that some of the above appendices are large and may take a while to download.

Assessment report

• Assessment Report for Flinders Power Partnership mine closure plan for the Leigh Creek Coalfield (PDF 11 MB)

More information on the closure and rehabilitation of the Leigh Creek mine can be found at:

• Flinders Power Partnership
• Leigh Creek Futures