Abbot Point ‘coal spill’ pictures rubbished by experts

GREEN groups have again been caught out using ­misleading images to mount a scare campaign about ­pollution at Adani’s Abbot Point terminal.

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GREEN groups have again been caught out using ­misleading images to mount a scare campaign about ­pollution at Adani’s Abbot Point terminal.

The pictures, widely shared and published this week, show black deposits on beaches near the terminal.

But claims by environmentalists of a “coal spill” at Abbot Point have been rubbished by locals and experts, including scientists from the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection.

Whitsunday Mayor Andrew Willcox said the blackened sand (above) was caused by a natural mineral called magnetite. He said pollution claims were “silly rot” and causing economic damage to a ­region suffering from cyclone damage.

Mr Willcox visited the site yesterday with a magnet to make sure the pictures showed magnetite.

“It’s definitely magnetite. Coal isn’t attracted to a magnet,’’ he said. “As long as I can remember, it has had magnetite there.”

Federal Minister for Natural Resources Matthew Canavan slammed green groups trying to bring down the Adani projects, saying “nothing that these green ­activists say can now be trusted.”

DEHP said that it had no immediate concerns regarding the images showing black deposits. “Regional shorelines are known for regular depositions of minerals in sand,’’ the department said.

“Nevertheless, the department is undertaking sampling to confirm that it is mineral sand.

“There is nothing to show that is connected to the Caley Valley Wetlands issue.”

The wetlands adjoin the Abbot Point terminal and after Cyclone Debbie tore through, the area satellite images showed black run-off from the coal stockpiles into Caley Valley.

But DEHP said that has been done under government approval.

The Australian Marine Conservation Society said this week that the beach “appears to be scattered with lumps of coal”.