MAC to build workers village at Narrabri

Mining services provider The MAC Services Group Ltd says it will build a workers' accommodation village in Narrabri to service the area's growing coal industry.

MAC says it has signed a contract with Narrabri Coal Operations to supply 150 reserved rooms for an initial term of four years on a take or pay basis.

The company has purchased 33 hectares at Narrabri to build the accommodation village, which be its base for a planned expansion into New South Wales.

"Our village site is 1.2 kilometres from the centre of town and will be developed in stages to meet the local accommodation demands as more mines are developed in the area," MAC chief executive Mark Maloney said in a statement on Monday.

"We plan to work with Council and the miners to tailor our plans to meet the needs of both the mine workforce and the local community."

MAC says it expects to submit a detailed development application to Narrabri Shire Council later this month, with the village to be operational by early 2011.

Narrabri underground thermal coal project has marketable reserves that will allow mining at six megatonne per annum for 30 years.