Adani’s finch protection plan given green light by State Government

Adani is cautiously optimistic it will begin work to build its Carmichael mine in north Queensland within weeks after it cleared another environmental hurdle in relation to the endangered black-throated finch.

ADANI is cautiously optimistic that it’s mine can begin within a matter of weeks, with mining CEO Lucas Dow declaring the company was encouraged by today’s approval.

Mr Dow said while the Indian miner “didn’t necessarily believe” all the State Government’s additional conditions relating to the black-throated finch were required, he said they were incorporated in the interest of getting the go-ahead.

“We’re encouraged,” he said.

“All in all our focus is on implementing those changes in the plan.”

Today’s approval is a far cry from the demands of the State Government earlier this month, after the mine was asked to count every single finch.

The Galilee Basin is a stronghold for the black-throated finch. File picture

Mr Dow said they no longer needed to.

The mine now needs the green light on its groundwater dependent ecosystem management plan to begin construction.

“Obviously we’re working through to finalise the GDEMP with the department of environment and science,” Mr Dow said.

“In parallel, were obviously dotting our I’s and crossing our T’s with our contractors, our suppliers, our subcontractors and local councils to be able to put everything in place to allow us to get on with it.

“All things boding well, we should be away in weeks. The reality is we’ve spent over $1 million studying this bird which I suspect is probably well in excess of what anyone else spent to understand the bird and its habitat. We’ve got safeguards in place to be able to ensure the habitat.”

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.

The Environment Department was given until today to either approve or deny the environment management plan after the Coordinator General was brought in by the Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.

Adani is now awaiting an answer on its groundwater management plan, expected by June 13.

The Department of Environment and Science today released a statement informing of its decision.

“Assessment of this plan has been a rigorous process, informed by the best available science,” it said.

“DES has met regularly with Adani to ensure that the plan is robust and is well-placed to deliver the best outcomes for the protection of the black-throated finch.

“This process has included an independent expert panel review of a previous version of the plan submitted in December 2018.”

It said Adani had committed to additional undertakings to strengthen the plan to protect the endangered species.

They include:

■ Establish enhanced understanding of the black-throated finch in the project area, including undertaking appropriate population studies,

■ Establish appropriate monitoring protocols that will allow for an analysis of the black-throated finch population in the project area over time, and

■ Manage the Ten Mile Bore area and surrounds in a manner that protects the black-throated finch, including a commitment to a low-grazing regime in that area.

DES is also satisfied that Adani will engage appropriately qualified ecologists to undertake the company’s survey and monitoring work in relation to the Black-throated finch.

The statement said the Carmichael mine site represented Australia’s most significant population of the endangered Black-throated finch (southern subspecies).

Adani CEO Lucas Dow.

Further rolling deadlines for the mine are set from June to September around the issuing of leases and licences allowing rail construction and operation, a workers’ camp and airport and the finalisation of a royalties deal.

Mr Dow last week said workers and equipment were already on site and construction of the mine and railway could begin within days of final approval.

Nearly 19,000 workers have applied for the estimated 1500 construction and ramp jobs expected over the next two years.

He said the finalisation brought the project one step closer to delivering much-needed jobs for regional Queenslanders.

“The black-throated finch management plan has been the subject of a rigorous approvals process over the past two years that has involved experts from both the Queensland and Australian Governments,” he said.

“The plan was developed by ecological experts and is backed by the best available science to ensure the finch is protected and that the species can coexist with mining operations.

“We are pleased that as part of this plan, 33,000ha of dedicated conservation land surrounding the mine site will be set aside and expertly managed to ensure an optimal habitat for the finch and other local native species.

“Following recent scientific advice from the Queensland Department of Environment and Science we have added more detail to the Black-throated Finch Management Plan on items such as cattle grazing intensity, habitat and population management and also delivered updates to our ongoing research plan.”

When asked about the mine at a press conference earlier today, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said she supported “any project that delivers jobs that meets its environmental standards”.

The Bob Brown Foundation responded to today’s news by describing the approval as a “deliberated extinction” of the finch.

“Today’s decision that the beautiful black-throated finch should be sacrificed for billionaire Gautam Adani’s coal mine shapes up as the second deliberated extinction in Australian history,” a statement said.

Former Greens leader Bob Brown says the latest approval amounts to a “deliberate extinction” of the endangered finch. Picture: Matthew Newton/AAP

It said the first was the shooting of the Tasmanian tiger for bounty in the 1800s.

“There are fewer black-throated finches in 2019 than there were tigers in 1888. The obliteration of the bird’s stronghold in the Galilee Basin is the same as shooting them,” it said.

Ms Palaszczuk last week intervened after Labor’s shock loss at the federal election, with the party thumped in regional Queensland electorates that want Adani’s jobs.

Days after the defeat she travelled to a coal terminal in Mackay to demand an end to the hold-ups, declaring she was fed up and that voters were too.

She ordered the co-ordinator-general to sit down with Adani and officials from her environment departmentand produce approval deadlines.

Conservationists and bird experts have warned the species could be sentenced to extinction if the mine proceeded.

The most important remaining stronghold for the bird is in the Galilee basin, on land Adani and others intend to mine.

“The majority of the black throated finch habitat has been cleared and suitable habitat declined to just 12 per cent of its original range,” finch expert and University of Queensland researcher Dr April Reside said yesterday.

“This critical habitat for this bird species is disappearing, pushing it to the brink.”

Earlier this month, a James Cook University-led review of contemporary studies on the finch found there are gaping holes in what’s known about the bird.

The review found no one knows how many are left, exactly where they are living and how far they roam, meaning knowledge of the bird’s optimal habitat is likely to be “biased or incomplete”.

A deadline of June 13 has been set for a decision on the company’s plan to manage groundwater.

— Additional reporting Tracey Ferrier