Quick Answer
Goonyella Riverside Mine is one of the largest open-cut coking coal mines in Australia, sitting in the central Bowen Basin near Moranbah. Key facts:
- Operator: BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) — a 50/50 JV between BHP and Mitsubishi Development
- Location: ~30km north of Moranbah, QLD
- Product: hard coking coal for steelmaking, railed to Hay Point Coal Terminal
- Formed by combining Goonyella and Riverside operations into a single super-pit
- Workforce: BMA employees + very large contractor base for HME, drill/blast, CHPP and shutdown work
Where Goonyella Riverside is located
Goonyella Riverside is around 30km north of Moranbah in Queensland's Isaac Regional Council area, in the central Bowen Basin. Access is via the Peak Downs Highway and site-specific access roads. Nearest towns are Moranbah, Coppabella and Nebo.
Operator: BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA)
BMA — a 50/50 joint venture between BHP and Mitsubishi Development — owns and operates Goonyella Riverside. It's one of seven BMA coal mines in the Bowen Basin and forms a core part of BMA's metallurgical coal supply.
What Goonyella Riverside produces
The mine produces hard coking coal used primarily in blast-furnace steelmaking. Coal is processed on-site at the CHPP and railed via the Goonyella rail system to Hay Point Coal Terminal for export.
Goonyella Riverside weather and climate
The central Bowen Basin has a hot, semi-arid climate — long dry winters, hot summers and a monsoonal wet season from December to March. Cyclone-related rain events can shut down pit operations. BMA runs weather-triggered work-standdowns and dedicated wet-weather crews to protect production.
Contractor workforce and scopes
Goonyella Riverside runs with a very large contractor footprint: mining services, HME major-component change-out, drill and blast, tyres, CHPP maintenance, civils, environmental works and shutdowns. Major OEMs (Komatsu, Hastings Deering) and specialist shutdown contractors are permanent fixtures on site.
How to access Goonyella Riverside
Contractors need to be prequalified through BMA's vendor systems (typically Avetta + BMA-specific onboarding), complete BMA generic + Goonyella site-specific induction, hold current standard 11, coal board medical and role-relevant tickets, and travel via approved buses or LVs from Moranbah/camp accommodation.
Related reading: BMA contractor guide · BMA shutdown planning · Peak Downs Mine guide · Saraji Mine guide · Bowen Basin mines map.
