Adani’s Carmichael coal mine is one step closer to fruition today after the Land Court of Queensland recommended it be given state approval.
Today’s decision, which in conjunction with Commonwealth re-approval earlier this year, clears another obstacle for Adani, which has been a target of environmental activists since the project was declared significant in 2010.
Together with the 59 rigorous conditions under federal environmental law, the Carmichael project would be subject to additional environmental conditions to ensure the protection of the endangered black-throated finch.
Queensland Resources Council Chief Executive Michael Roche said the Land Court approval, while welcome, immediately raised concern of further litigation to come.
“Coast and Country are serial abusers of the Queensland court system and we fear that they will not respect the Land Court’s recommendation as the final word,” he said.
“Adani has become the target of green activists’ vexatious litigation, having already faced two federal appeals and a string of cases against the Abbot Point expansion.
“And no sooner did the Land Court pass down its judgement, than the Environmental Defenders Office was tweeting for donations to fund federal court action.
“The activists’ disrupt and delay tactics are clearly outlined in the their anti-coal playbook Stopping the Australian Coal Export Boom, and continue to deny Queenslanders thousands of needed jobs and millions of dollars to help pay for state services such as schools, police and hospitals.”
The mine still has a two federal court actions against it and there is also potential for an appeal of today’s approval.
The win in the Land Court was against an appeal brought by Coast and Country relating to environmental protection.
They said Minister Greg Hunt failed to consider whether the impact of climate pollution, resulting from burning the mine’s coal, would be inconsistent with Australia’s international obligations to protect the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef.
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