Adani has started road works at its controversial Carmichael mine project as debate continues to rage over groundwater management and conservation at the site.
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The Queensland Environmental Defenders Office recently released analysis showing 2000 hectares initially reserved for conservation of the black-throated finch at Carmichael has been shaved away because it overlaps a separate mining lease set aside for China Stone.
“Under its environmental approval, Adani needs to be able to legally secure the land it will use for environmental offsets,” the EDO has said.
“If the land is under mining tenure belonging to another company, it may face legal difficulties securing its land for conservation purposes.”
More than 33,000 hectares remain set aside for black-throated finch management at Carmichael, with Adani warning this conservation area would not exist if the mine did not go ahead.
Adani said this area would be one of the largest privately-managed conservation estates in Queensland.
Another issue currently faced by Adani is the groundwater management plan for Carmichael, which is still being scrutinised by the state Department of Environment and Science.
Water management is a key concern of Queensland producers, who are nervous about coal mines permanently depleting precious groundwater flows from the Great Artesian Basin.
Tensions are high between Adani and the state government, with Adani recently using Twitter to accuse the government of “standing in the way” of progress at the Carmichael mine.
As debate rages over the black-throated finch and Adani’s groundwater management plan, the mining giant has attempted to jump start Carmichael by ploughing ahead with road works at the site.
Adani chief executive Lucas Dow said the company was focused on completing whatever work it could under current planning approvals.
“The road upgrades are an important step to prepare for the construction of the Carmichael project to ensure larger equipment can be transported to site, and the infrastructure meets future demand for increased traffic,” Mr Dow said.
“In terms of getting started on the mine, we have submitted our remaining management plans.
“In relation to the approval of these plans and getting started, we have certainty of process and timing at both the federal and local government levels however the Queensland government has to date been unwilling to commit.”
Adani is currently installing grid by-passes along the road to the site, which will facilitate the transport of larger machinery once mining gets underway.
A state environment department spokesman has said Adani still needed to obtain required approvals before it could start mining.
"Statements by Adani that they now will be self-funded and can proceed are separate issues from the required approvals which Adani must attain, as is the case for every like mining proposal," the spokesman said.
The spokesman said Adani's groundwater management plan would not be approved until it was updated.
"Preliminary advice from CSIRO requires Adani to update the plan.
"[The department] continues to provide feedback to Adani to ensure that the [groundwater management plan] meets approval requirements, and will not continue to assess the [groundwater management plan] until an updated version is submitted."