Adani facing government probe into latest coal terminal water release into wetlands

The Queensland Government is investigating whether Indian mining firm Adani has breached its environmental licence for the second time in two years with the release of coal-laden floodwaters from its coal port at Abbot Point in the state's north.

Adani's Abbot Point storage dam released water into
the adjacent Caley Valley wetlands earlier this month.

It comes as Adani revealed it did not apply for an emergency permit to dump more polluted water into the sensitive Caley Valley wetlands during the north Queensland floods last week.

The company told the ABC that Abbot Point operators were confident they could manage floodwaters with new infrastructure, but were then overwhelmed by flows from neighbouring properties.

Read the ABC News story by Josh Robertson - “Adani facing government probe into latest coal terminal water release into wetlands.”

Adani mining giant to fight $12k fine for environmental breach.

Indian mining giant Adani will contest a fine of just over $12,000 issued by the Queensland Government over the unauthorised release of sediment stormwater from the Abbot Point coal terminal.

The Abbot Point site in north Queensland - the unauthorised release took place in March.

Adani gave notice to the state environment department that they would contest the fine in court.

The company was granted a temporary emissions licence to help it manage water on the site during Tropical Cyclone Debbie.

The environment department said Adani later advised it had breached the conditions, after releasing sediment amounts more than eight times the level it was licenced for.

A spokesperson for Adani declined to comment as the matter is before the courts.

Read Tim Swanston’s ABC News story - “Adani mining giant to fight $12k fine for environmental breach.”

Abbot Point go-ahead defies Paris decision

Abbot Point - given the go-ahead by
Environment Minister, Greg Hunt.

Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt has given the go-ahead to the expansion of the Abbot Point Coal Terminal near Bowen in north Queensland, making it one of the world's largest coal ports.

The controversial project involves dredging 1.1 million cubic metres of spoil near the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, which will then be disposed of on land.

Read the ABC story - “Abbot Point: Federal Government approves huge coal port expansion near Great Barrier Reef.”

(This appears to be a contradictory decision – world communities recently agreed in Paris to ensure their behaviours would not allow global temperatures to exceed two degrees Celsius and now the Australian Government has acted to expedite the shipping of coal through the Abbot Point Coal Terminal. Coal stands alone as an atmospheric pollutant and so its excavation, sale and shipping through the rather fragile Great Barrier Reef, defies the spirit of the Paris agreement – Robert McLean.)