THE controversial Adani coal mine on the Galilee Basin is one step closer to becoming operational after a key federal environmental regulation was approved today.
The revised groundwater management plans for the Carmichael Coal Mine and Rail Infrastructure project were independently assessed by the CSIRO and Geoscience Australia, who confirmed they meet strict scientific requirements.
This paved the way for Federal Environment Minister Melissa Price to approve the groundwater plan, however she said further approvals were required from the Queensland Government before construction could commence.
"This decision does not comprise the final approval for this project," Ms Price said.
"The project now requires further approvals from the Queensland Government prior to construction commencing.
"To date, only 16 of 25 environmental plans have been finalised or approved by the Commonwealth and Queensland Governments with a further nine to be finalised."
Ms Price said the project had been subject to the most rigorous approval process of any mining project in Australia.
"It must meet further stringent conditions of approval from the Commonwealth before it can begin producing coal. Approvals for the project by the Commonwealth in 2015 and the Queensland State Government in 2016 resulted in the setting of 180 strict conditions to protect the environment."
Adani Mining CEO Lucas Dow said the company welcomed the Minister's approval, but accused the Queensland Government of dragging the chain.
"Throughout the past 18 months, the Federal Department provided us with certainty of process and timing, including the steps involved in the independent review by CSIRO and Geoscience Australia experts," Mr Dow said.
"In contrast, the Queensland Government has continued to shift the goal posts when it comes to finalising the outstanding environmental management plans for the mine and is standing in the way of thousands of jobs for Queenslanders."
Mr Dow said the groundwater plans detail all activities that will be undertaken and safeguards put in place, including a network of more than 100 monitoring bores to track underground water levels.
"The plans will ensure we achieve sustainable environmental outcomes and we're now looking forward to delivering the thousands of jobs our project will create for people in north and central Queensland."
However, Queensland Environment Minister Leeanne Enoch queried whether political interference had played a part in the approval and said uncertainties over the plan remained.
"The GDEMP will be considered against Queensland's own environmental conditions," Ms Enoch said.
"Queensland decisions will be made by the environmental regulator, free from political interference."
North Queensland based Liberal Senator Ian Macdonald welcomed the approval.
"This was a process that was taking its course and we are a government that properly follows process," Mr Macdonald said.
"I have had briefings with Adani and the Prime Minister's office over the past week and was always satisfied that the correct process was being followed.
"I am ecstatic about this final hurdle being overcome so that jobs can flow to Townsville and the north in general.
"This huge private investment in the North will continue the growth of Northern Australia that I have been encouraging for decades."
However, Lock the Gate Alliance spokeswoman Carmel Flint said it was a rushed decision and dubbed it "one of the compromised environmental approvals this country has ever seen."
"The Adani mine puts at risk 187 unique Great Artesian Basin spring wetlands which are vital to graziers and wildlife in Central Queensland.
"Independent water experts have identified glaring failures with the water plan and Adani have still not done the research recommended by Great Artesian Basin spring experts in 2016."
