Two major coal projects have been give approval to go ahead in the northern Australian state of Queensland, causing major concerns for those opposed to the plans.
The conservative Liberal-National federal government has approved a massive coal-mining project in central Queensland that will be the largest in the country.
At the same time a proposal to substantially reduce the amount of dredging at the controversial $2 billion Abbot Point coal port has been rejected by the conservative Liberal National Party (LNP) state government.
AAp Newsagency reports federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt has approved the 37,380 hectare Kevin’s Corner project.
The mine, to be operated by a joint India-Australia consortium, GVK-Hancock, is the first to be approved since the introduction of a new water trigger rule by the previous federal Labor government.
Environmental lobby group Greenpeace claims Kevin’s Corner will use more than nine billion litres of water a year and the farm-based Lock the Gate Alliance said more information on its impact on Galilee Basin groundwater was needed.
Today, 13 water science experts urged Mr Hunt to reject any mining proposals that would adversely impact water supplies.
They said mining and coal seam gas (CSG) extraction could damage aquifers, rivers and water catchments.
AAP reports Queensland Resources Council acting chief executive Greg Lane said Kevin’s Corner stood to not only improve living standards for millions of people in India, but also open up one of the world’s most exciting new coal provinces.
“GVK is to be congratulated for its commitment to this project in the toughest operating environment that the Queensland coal industry has faced this century,” he said in a statement.
Meanwhile the LNP government has rejected a proposal to reduce the amount of dredging at the Abbot Point coal port from three million cubic metres to just 500,000 cubic metres
The idea would likely have meant that dredge spoil could have been dumped onshore instead of in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
Onshore disposal would remove the most contentious issue being fought by fishermen and conservationists in the development of the world’s largest coal port.
The project has been under sustained attack due to its potential to impact on the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, which is under consideration by the United Nations cultural arm UNESCO for listing as World Heritage in danger.
An assessment of the Reef released on Friday blamed agricultural and urban run-off rather than dredging for most damage.
A departmental briefing to Queensland Environment Minister Andrew Powell which was uncovered in a Right to Information search says the port could go ahead with less dredging if the two jetties to be built were extended from 2.8 kilometres to 4km.
Although this would mean they would extend into the marine park, “the ecological outcome would be significantly better than the current proposals”.
The briefing warned that dredge spoil material was moving much further and in much greater volumes than previously thought.
Mr Powell said extending jetties was rejected because of concerns about shipping safety.
The LNP government had approved the current project but the final decision rested with the federal government.
A spokesman for Mr Hunt said the minister could assess only what was before him and that was for the larger dredging option.
NQ Bulk Ports, a government-owned corporation, chief executive Brad Fish said disposal of dredge spoil offshore was the best environmental outcome.
If Abbot Point dredging was approved this year, it would enable supporting mine and rail developments to proceed, making coal export possible by 2017.
Last week Mr Hunt delayed a decision on the project to further consider its environmental impact.
When the Labor government delayed a decision in August, LNP Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney said it showed then Labor prime minister Kevin Rudd was an “indecisive dud”.
A spokesman for Mr Hunt said Mr Seeney had not complained about the latest postponement.
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