Carmichael gets Parliamentary push

PERTH (miningweekly.com) – The Queensland Parliament has thrown its weight behind the $16.5-billion Carmichael coal mine and rail projects being developed by India’s Adani.

State Development and Natural Resources and Mines Minister Anthony Lynham said this week that Parliament had agreed a motion that all state government approvals be provided to help create jobs in North and Central Queensland.

“The government strongly supports the sustainable development of the Galilee basin for the jobs and economic development it could provide for regional Queensland,” Lynham told the House.

“For that reason the government and the independent Coordinator General have been working closely with Adani to facilitate their approvals in accordance with statutory obligations.”

Lynham told Parliament that the project mining leases could only be approved when compensation agreements were reached.

”Statutory assessments and decision-making process must be robust and comprehensive to minimise any risk of legal challenge.

“I can assure the people of Queensland, particularly those who want the jobs and economic development that this project could offer: I will only make decisions armed with all of the relevant facts, and with careful and detailed consideration.”

In February this year, the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection issued a final environmental authority for the Carmichael projects, which contained some 140 conditions, including nine relating to the black throated finch.

The project was also backed by the Queensland Land Court in December last year.

The proposed Carmichael project would comprise an opencut and underground mine, running for a period of some 90 years and producing an average 60-million tonnes a year of thermal coal.