Another appeal against Adani’s Carmichael coal mine dismissed

PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Indian major Adani has recorded another legal win against naysayers of its $16.5-billion Carmichael coal mine planned in Queensland.

The Federal Court on Friday dismissed challenges from the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) on an earlier Federal Court ruling that upheld the environmental approval, and native title objections from Adrian Barrugubba against the proposed coal mine.

The Federal Court decision comes just days after the Queensland Court of Appeal dismissed Burragubba’s appeal against the grant of the mining lease over the Carmichael resource.

“This is the third time this week that these parties have failed in their appeals against earlier court dismissals,” said Adani Australia CEO and head of country, Jeyakumar Janakaraj.

“Each of these appeals simply tried to delay a project that will create 10 000 direct and indirect jobs, including a minimum 7.5% of jobs going to Traditional Land Owners covering the planned rail route of almost 400-km long strip from Abbot Point to central western Queensland.”

Janakaraj said that the project would also inject some A$22-billion in royalties and charges to the state government.

The Carmichael coal, railway and port project includes building Australia’s largest thermal coal mine producing some 60-million tonnes a year over a 90-year mine life, linked by a new 388 km standard gauge rail line to a new terminal at Abbot Point port near Bowen.

Adani on Friday said that the company will be seeking costs in all legal actions this week.

The ACF meanwhile said that the Federal Court’s decision was only the start of its campaign to stop Adani from developing the Carmichael mine.

ACF CEO Kelly O’Shanassy said the organisation would now explore other legal options to challenge the mine, which represents a “monumental threat” to the Great Barrier Reef and the planet.

“We will never give up. The most significant environment campaign of this generation is only just getting started,” O’Shanassy said.

“If the Environment Minister can legally approve this reckless polluting mine, it confirms our environment laws are not strong enough.”