Adani Carmichael coal mine gets Federal Government approval

THE Federal Government has approved a controversial coal mine and rail project in Queensland but green groups say it’s “a dangerous pipedream”.

CONSERVATION groups have condemned the federal government’s conditional approval of the controversial $16 billion Adani Carmichael coal mine and rail project in central Queensland.

Environment Minister Greg Hunt gave on Thursday conditional approval, based on 36 criteria, to the stalled project that is now back on track to become the biggest coal mine in Australia.

Indian mining group Adani welcomed the announcement, saying the mine was at the heart of its plans to build a long-term future in Queensland that would deliver 10,000 direct and indirect jobs.

An earlier approval by Mr Hunt was set aside by the Federal Court in August after the government conceded it had made a technical error that could endanger the future of the black-throated finch and yakka skink in the region.

The conditions include accepting advice from the independent expert scientific committee, protection of 31,000 hectares of southern black-throated finch habitat, $1 million of funding for research into threatened species and protection of Doongmabulla Springs.

Map showing the location of proposed Carmichael mine south of Charters Towers in Queensland. Source: Adani

“The rigorous conditions will protect threatened species and provide long-term benefits for the environment through the development of an offset package,” Mr Hunt said in a statement. “These measures must be approved by myself before mining can start.” Twenty-three conditions have been attached to the rail project through the Galilee Basin.

Adani said on Thursday it was confident the conditions would be met and that local wildlife would not be affected.

“Minister Hunt makes clear that these concerns have been addressed, reflected in rigorous and painstaking conditions,” the company said in a statement.

However, some green groups swiftly condemned Mr Hunt’s announcement.

Mackay Conservation Group, which won the Federal Court challenge two months ago, said the project still risked threatening species, groundwater, the global climate and taxpayers’ money.

The Australian Marine Conservation Society said the decision once again put the Great Barrier Reef in peril.

And Greenpeace said the mine would be a complete disaster for the climate and the reef.

“It’s a dangerous pipedream,” campaigner Shani Tager said.

“Fortunately for the reef, and the climate, Carmichael has been rejected by 14 major banks, Queensland’s treasury department has described the project as ‘unbankable’ and no other investors are prepared to get behind a project that needs $16.5 billion.”.

Originally published as Adani Carmichael coal mine gets Federal Government approval