— With AAP.
In 2010, Adani began the approval process to establish two new mines and a rail line in the Galilee Basin in Central Queensland.
Last week, almost a decade later, Adani won the final approval it needs to construct its proposed mine.
On Thursday afternoon, Queensland’s environment department signed off on a plan to manage groundwater on and around the company’s Galilee Basin mine site.
The approval was signed despite enduring concerns held by some water experts that the mine could kill off an ancient springs complex, and have dire effects on the health of the Carmichael River.
But what exactly is Adani and why are people so angry about it?
What Adani means for Australia. Post continues after podcast.
Here’s everything you need to know about the approval of the Adani mine:
What is Adani?
The Adani Group is an Indian multinational conglomerate. The company, which was founded by self-made billionaire Gautam Adani, want to build a coal mine in Central Queensland, inland from the Great Barrier Reef.
The mine will be the largest coal mine in Australia and one of the biggest in the world. But it won’t be as big as Adani initially anticipated.
The previous estimated cost for the mine was $16.5 billion but after the company were unable to source funds for the mine from any bank in Australia following pressure from environmental activists, Adani announced it would instead self-finance the mine for $2 billion.
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Top Comments
I’m against Adani but not for environmental reasons. I live in the Hunter Valley. For those of you who know about our most profitable export, you’ll understand why I would have preferred that the project didn’t go ahead.
However, I wonder how many of those commenting on this have ever been on an open cut mine site. I have and was amazed at the measures taken to minimise permanent environmental damage. There’s no doubt that the sites look shocking when viewed from above. However, less than 10 years after the pits close down, the remediation is complete.
Most importantly, the measures taken to stop one drop of water leaving the site are bordering on over the top. Adani may have a poor environmental record elsewhere but I take issue with anyone who says Australia’s laws are ineffectual. There seems to be a perception that miners have no interest in the environment. Knowing what I do about coal mining, I don’t believe that’s necessarily true.
You have omitted some key facts.
- QLD government has now re-estimated the ongoing jobs at 100 after the construction phase is over and mine is operational. Yep, that's it.
- Government is giving them a 'royalty holiday' so they won't be paying royalties for the first 4 years. This is a subsidy and means the broader community will not benefit.
- Adani will have the ability to permanently drain as much water as it likes for FREE from the acquifer, which is one of the largest and most critical sources of water in Australia. While Australians are living through drought, farmers crops and animals are dying of thirst and mass fish kills are happening in our rivers.
- Adani as a company has a terrible track record of causing major pollution and environmental destruction in their mining projects. They do not care about our country or environment. They are an offshore company who cares about shareholder profits in India. Australia has very toothless laws to protect the environment and fine polluters (maximum fines amount to a pittance, slap on the wrist and are not a deterrent). If Adani are allowed to pollute our groundwater, Australia's future water security is gone and we will never be able to fix it.
- price of coal has gone through the floor since the mine was first proposed. The mine will ultimately need propping up through even more government subsidies, so guess who will end up paying for it folks....us taxpayers!
Now.....who's in!?!??