Location

Blackwater

Region

Queensland

Previously owned by BHP, acquired by Whitehaven in 2023, our team have been performing pre-strip operations at Blackwater since 2012.

Located in the Bowen Basin of Central Queensland, Whitehaven’s Blackwater Mine is one of Queensland’s largest coal mines and is a crucial supplier of metallurgical coal to Asian markets. It is situated approximately 21 kilometres from the town of Blackwater.

The BUMA Australia team have been performing truck and excavator pre-strip operations at the Blackwater Mine since December 2021, building upon the extensive experience gained from the previous operations (as Downer East Coast Mining business) since May 2012. Over 44 million banked cubic metres of material is mined by our fleets annually.

We operate multiple fleets, including Ultra Class equipment across the operation to deliver high-volume overburden removal.

Community and Environment

The mine is adjacent to the town of Blackwater where our workforce is accommodated and integrates into the township. We are proud supporters of local community groups in the area.

Our Blackwater team are also proud of our First Nations work readiness program that has been operating since 2016. The program has been triumphant in preparing new to industry operators to be successful team members of our BUMA Australia team at Blackwater. BUMA Australia also provides financial support to the local Police Citizens Youth Club (PCYC), helping deliver youth-focused initiatives such as the Braking the Cycle, Drop In, and After Dark programs.

Further support extends to Blackwater’s primary and secondary schools, Tiny Tots Kindergarten Centre, and local youth football teams – helping foster education, wellbeing, and active lifestyles in the region.