Friday 16 October 2015

Carmichael coal mine: Conservationists look at further appeal against $16 billion Adani mine in central Queensland

Extract from ABC News

Posted 35 minutes ago
The Adani Group's $16 billion Carmichael Coal Mine and Rail Project

The law firm acting on behalf of the main challengers against the $16 billion Carmichael coal mine in Central Queensland's Galilee Basin may lodge another appeal.
The Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) acts of behalf of the Mackay Conservation Group, which has fought the approval of Indian mining giant Adani's Carmichael mega-mine.
Yesterday, the Federal Government reissued a corrected approval, giving the go-ahead to the mine and a rail line that will connect it to port.
The approval comes with 36 conditions, which the Federal Government said were the toughest in Australia's history.
Resource industry groups have previously accused the law firm and its client of purposely delaying the project through legal battles.
Adani said it hoped the remaining processes happened swiftly to keep the project on track.

Mine in 'dry, dusty, remote' area of outback Queensland

After announcing the re-approval, Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt described the proposed site.
"I have visited the site - it is an area that has been used for cattle among other things," he said.

Some conditions imposed on Adani:

  • Implement advice from Independent Expert Scientific Committee on Coal Seam Gas and Large Coal Mining Development
  • Protect and improve 31,000 hectares of southern black-throated finch habitat
  • $1 million research funding to improve conservation of threatened species over 10 years
  • Protect Doongmabulla Springs through monitoring of groundwater and triggers to enforce limits
"It's a very dry, dusty area - if you imagine outback Queensland, this is deep outback Queensland."
Queensland Conservation Council spokeswoman Nicky Hungerford said that was no excuse to mine there.
"Most of Australia is dry, dusty and remote and this mine is talking about taking 12 billion litres of water a year and if it is so dry, dusty and remote, where are they going to get the water from?" she said.
Financial analyst Gavin Wendt said there were serious questions about the financial viability of the project.
He said the price of thermal coal had fallen sharply and was expected to remain low for several years.
"One has to question whether the project would even break-even at these sorts of levels - I doubt it," he said.
"You have to take into account that it's a multi-billion-dollar development and the rate of return of such a development - with current coal prices - you wouldn't even contemplate it.
"It's very, very difficult to find a lender in the current environment."

Early signs another appeal warranted

EDO lawyer Sue Higginson said they had 28 days to lodge an appeal.
"We would only commence a proceedings in the Commonwealth Court if we thought there was a good legal basis," she said.
"We're not in the business of holding up projects."
She said there were early signs that another appeal is warranted.
Ms Higginson said there was still no plan to address climate change.
"At this very early point there does appear to be some legal question mark at this stage," she said.
The Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) said the mine would threaten more jobs than it created.
AMCS campaign director Imogen Zethoven said the mine would bring more ships through the reef and more greenhouse gases to the environment.
"It's important to recognise that saving the reef is consistent with saving jobs," she said.
"There's 69,000 jobs that rely on a healthy reef and any jobs that would be created by this project would be very short-term and would in fact add to the risk of those long-term jobs."
Ms Zethoven said the AMCS was extremely disappointed by the decision.
"If this mine goes ahead we could see a mega-port approved along the Great Barrier Reef coastline, more coal ships traversing the reef, more mining and burning of coal, which could lead to increased global warming and mass bleaching fo the Great Barrier Reef," she said.

Long legal process ahead

Queensland Resources Council chief executive officer Michael Roche said the battle for the mine was not over and was just one step in a long process.
Mr Roche said it was an important project that would provide thousands of jobs to the regions.
He said approval for the port and a decision by the Queensland Land Court were needed before the project can go ahead.
"This is such an important project for regional Queensland - it means thousands of jobs but already the activists are out raising funds for an appeal," he said.
"This is what we're up against - activists will use every trick to disrupt and delay important projects.
"We still need a decision from the Minister on the Abbot Point port project and we're also waiting for the decision of the Queensland Land Court, so this is a project that's back on track, but still a way to go."
Rockhampton-based LNP Senator Matthew Canavan said Adani's mine would help boost the local economy.
"Directly it will bring at least 1,500 to 2,000 jobs - to put this into some kind of scale, just this coal mine is $15 to $16 billion - and that's around a third of the National Broadband Network, and all of it is being spent in our region," he said.
Senator Canavan said environmental activists needed to get out of the way and allow for growth in Queensland.
"Their desire is simply to delay, and that means missed opportunities, that means fewer jobs for people, and that means a harder time for our businesses and our local economy," he said.

"We should be laying out the red carpet to see the start of this as soon as we can."

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