Adani megamine finally gets green light
The Adani megamine has finally been approved, with the green light given for the controversial Indian miner’s groundwater management plan.
QLD Politics
Don't miss out on the headlines from QLD Politics. Followed categories will be added to My News.
THE Adani megamine has finally been approved, with the green light given for the controversial Indian miner’s groundwater management plan.
The decision comes after Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk performed a stunning backflip in the wake of Labor’s federal election drubbing, imposing a deadline on her own government to resolve the mine’s two final management plans.
Morrison can’t support Adani and call the Pacific family
Queensland Parliament Question Time blog: Adani day of reckoning arrives
Coal-mining towns set for Adani jobs to flow
In an extraordinary admission, she declared she was “fed up” with the process and ordered the Co-ordinator-General to intervene.
The controversial black-throated finch management plan, which was subjected to an 11th hour review, was ticked off on May 31.
While the Government imposed extra conditions on the miner, it also pared back initial demands to count every single finch on the site.
Adani has previously said it would be able to begin construction within days if both approvals were secured, with equipment already on site.
Nearly 19,000 workers have applied for the estimated 1500 construction and ramp jobs expected over the next two years.
Further rolling deadlines from June to September are set for leases and licences, allowing rail construction and operation, a workers’ camp and airport and the finalisation of a royalties deal.
The State Government’s Environment Department has approved the mine on stringent conditions.
In a statement released earlier, it reveals concerns were raised last week by Flinders University scientists that the Permian aquifers should not be ruled out as a Doongmabulla Springs Complex source.
Additional measures have been placed in the management plan to address this, including installing a new bore below the Rewan Formation, in the vicinity of the Doongmabulla Springs Complex, to determine if the Permian aquifers form a source for the springs.
Adani will also need to review hydrological, hydrochemistry analyses and seismic information as part of its second geological and groundwater remodelling after box cut mining starts, and review seismic information pertaining underground mining impacts which is scheduled to start in year 10 of the project.
Underground mining will not start until these actions are completed and “only if predicted impacts are consistent with approved impacts.”
The Indian miner lodged its most recent version of its plan yesterday to the department.
The department said it was satisfied the plan “sufficiently establishes the main source aquifer of the springs as the Clematis Sandstone.”
“CSIRO and Geoscience Australia also confirmed that some level of uncertainty in geological and groundwater conceptual models always exists,” the statement said.
Adani CEO Lucas Dow released a statement confirming the approval.
“Adani Mining received advice today from the Queensland Government’s Department of Environment and Science that the Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems Management Plan (GDEMP) has been finalised and approved,” he said.
“This is confirmation the plan complies with all regulatory conditions set by the Australian and State Governments, bringing to a close a two-year process of rigorous scientific inquiry, review and approvals. This includes relevant reviews by Australia’s pre-eminent scientific organisations CSIRO and Geoscience Australia.
“The finalisation of the GDEMP and Black-throated Finch Management Plan paves the way for construction to commence on the Carmichael Project and the delivery of much needed jobs for regional Queenslanders.
“Moving forward, our priority is ensuring the safety of everyone who works on the project and that all construction activity meets the strict environmental requirements we have agreed to meet in our management plans and approvals.”
Mr Dow said activities like finalising contracts, mobilising equipment, recruitment and completing inductions would continue in coming days.
“These preparatory actions will enable us to then start construction activities including fencing, bridge and road upgrades, water management and civil earthworks on the mine site.
“The level of construction activity will then steadily increase over the coming weeks.
“The project will deliver 1,500 direct and 6,750 indirect jobs during ramp up and construction, with Rockhampton and Townsville the primary hubs for employment.
‘The Whitsunday, Isaac, Central Highlands, Mackay, Charters Towers and Gladstone regions will also benefit from work packages and employment opportunities.”
Green groups immediate reacted with anger the decision accusing the Government of condemning the environment for political gain.
Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Northern Australia Matt Canavan hailed the decision as a “historic day for Queensland”.
“It has been more than 50 years since a new coal basin has opened in Queensland, so this development is of huge importance to the economic future of the state,” he said.
“When the Bowen Basin opened in the 1960s it transformed central Queensland.
“Opening up a new basin in Galilee promises similar development and opportunity.
“Now we need to work together at all levels of government to deliver this opportunity to all workers, small businesses, indigenous Australians and local communities.”
Senator Canavan said it also heralded a new chapter in the growing relationship between India and Australia.
“Stronger relations between India and Australia will come through commerce not just cricket,” he said.
“Adani is the biggest commercial investment from an Indian company in Australia. Hopefully there will now be many more investments to come.”
Senator Canavan said the State Government had only made the decision under threat of its own jobs following federal Labor’s rout at the recent election.
“The Queensland Government must now help facilitate the other mines in the Galilee to get more jobs going before they can be trusted again by the Queensland people,” he said.
State Environment Minister Leeane Enoch told Parliament Adani had been subjected to a rigorous process before receiving both its approvals.
Treasurer Jackie Trad, who has been painted as the chief Adani detractor in the Government, sat next to Ms Enoch as she addressed the House this afternoon.
“When it comes to resource projects in this state, our position has always been clear,” Ms Enoch said.
“The Coordinator-General first gave approval for the Adani Carmichael Mine in 2014.
“Today’s decision as per the Environmental Protection Act could not be made by me.
“It has been made by ... regulator and backed by expert advice.”
Ms Enoch did take a swipe at the Indian miner, claiming the company has “unfortunately” not always engaged constructively with the department.
“I hope that this is not an indication of how the company will approach their future obligations,” she said.
“The obligation is now on Adani to abide by its approval conditions as it goes about its work.”
Former Greens leader Bob Brown, who led an anti-Adani convoy to Queensland during the federal campaign, said the approval was the outcome of a “corrupted process”.
“Independent science shows Gautam Adani’s coal extraction will most likely lead to the death of the Doongmabulla Springs, sacred to the Wangan and Jagalingou people, but here are the powers-that-be giving it a tick. As they gave the impending extinction of the Black-throated Finch a tick two weeks ago,” Mr Brown said.
He said Australia’s environmental process were a farce.
State Parliament’s lone Greens MP Michael Berkman took to Twitter to warn the campaign to stop Adani would continue.
“Queensland Labor has approved Adani’s groundwater management plan. But make no mistake, this is not the end. Labor’s internal meltdown and capitulation to coal billionaires won’t make an entire movement of people disappear … we’re just getting started.
“If Adani really believes they’ll get their way, they’ve got another thing coming.
“They’ll keep trying to make us feel small and they’ll tell us we can’t stop them.
“But every major win in social movements throughout history was ‘impossible’ until it was done.”
Katter’s Australian Party Queensland leader Robbie Katter said benefits from the mine should go to Queenslanders and especially areas near the mine.
Mr Katter also called for the Government to build its own railway line into the Galilee Basin to help get coal from other proposed mines to the port.
“It’s one thing to get these mines off the ground, it’s another to get them access to the port and I still find it astounding that we keep talking about a Cross River Rail that’s going to cost $5 billion when $2 billion can build a rail line in to the Galilee,” he said.
“There should be a rail line built and owned by the government, which may suggest a second one going in.
“As most people know there’s a lot more coal, Adani’s pretty small in the grand scheme of things in the Galilee Basin so there’ll be a lot of other people looking for accessibility.”
Additional reporting Michael Wray, Renee Viellaris and Jessica Marszalek
$135m health bungle: Minister’s apology to affected businesses
Health Minister Steven Miles has apologised to businesses that have suffered delays because of the new Queensland Health payment system.
Hundreds of staff underpaid at Queensland utility
A Queensland Government-owned utility corporation has underpaid hundreds of its senior staff for more than a decade in a bungle that could have ripped off up to a quarter of its workforce.