Updated
Adani has been given Commonwealth approval to start building its Queensland coal mine, in a victory for the controversial project.
Key points:
- Environment Minister Melissa Price has approved two groundwater management plans
- The decisions mark the final Commonwealth approvals before construction
- The Queensland Government is yet to green light building works
Environment Minister Melissa Price has given the green light to the project’s groundwater management plans.
The future of the proposal for central Queensland now rests with the State Government, having received the final federal approvals needed before construction can begin.
The Environment Minister was under pressure from Queensland colleagues to sign off on the plans before the Government calls the election and enters caretaker mode.
Ms Price said in a statement that she had accepted the advice of the CSIRO and Geoscience Australia, which both gave the green light.
“This project has been subject to the most rigorous approval process of any mining project in Australia,” she said.
“This process reflects our commitment to ensuring robust environmental protection while balancing the needs of Australia’s economy.”
The Queensland Government is yet to approve construction as it seeks to protect a colony of black-throated finches around the mine site.
The project still requires nine more approvals to be granted from the Queensland and Commonwealth governments before mining can commence.
Adani poses political conundrum for both major parties
The Coalition has been split over the project — rural Queensland MPs have been strongly supportive, while urban Liberals have worried it could damage their electoral chances.
The Opposition has been walking a similar political tightrope as it seeks to capture seats in central Queensland while holding off inner-city Greens challengers.
Labor leader Bill Shorten today gave a strong indication that the ALP would not reverse any environmental approvals, if elected.
“We’ve got to see what the Queensland Government does,” Mr Shorten said.
“We’ll just adhere to the law, we’re not interested in sovereign risk … we’ll just be guided by the law and by the science.”
Adani Mining chief executive officer Lucas Dow welcomed the Commonwealth’s decision, saying underground water levels would be tracked using more than 100 monitoring bores.
“The measures outlined in the plans will ensure groundwater at the mine, and the ecosystems that depend on it, are protected,” Mr Dow said.
Topics:
coal,
qld,
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