Mackay, Queensland. A large crowd of close to 60 people attended the Mackay forum of the ‘Our Water, Our Lifeblood’ regional roadshow last night, and unanimously passed a resolution calling for the Queensland Government to cancel Adani’s water licences.
*Local community members will deliver the resolution to local MP Julieanne Gilbert at 10am on Friday 13th April.*
The resolution passed by the meeting states:
“Adani's Carmichael coal mine, and eight other proposed mega-mines in the Galilee Basin, put at risk water resources that are the lifeblood of Central Queensland.
We call on Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, the Minister for the Environment Leanne Enoch and Minister for Mines Anthony Lynham to cancel Adani’s water licences to take groundwater and river water, and to protect our fragile water resources for future generations”.
Speakers included eminent water expert Tom Crothers, former General Manager of Water Allocation and Planning with the Queensland Government, and author of the Report “Draining the Lifeblood” about water risks of proposed Galilee Basin coal mines.
Lock the Gate spokesperson Ellie Smith said:
“The strong interest in the forum last night highlights just how concerned the people of Queensland are about the devastating impacts the Adani coal mine will have on our water resources.
“The forum heard from experts about the risks that the mine poses to groundwater sources, rivers, spring wetlands and aquifers of the Great Artesian Basin.
“It also heard that Adani will leave behind dangerous legacies after mining, including six open pits that will never be filled and that will drain millions of litres of groundwater every year, forever.
“The facts provided at the forum exposed the flaws in recent comments made by Adani mining and the Queensland Government about the water impacts of the mine.
“There is no volumetric limit on the amount of associated groundwater that Adani can extract and Adani does not have to pay for the associated groundwater it takes.
“It’s clear that Adani has failed to conduct additional research recommended by the Federal Bioregional Assessment about the potential impacts on the unique Doongmabulla Springs.
“History shows us that mining companies breach conditions put in place in to protect our precious water sources and that governments fail to stop projects or prosecute companies.
“Sadly, once water sources are damaged by mining companies they are often damaged forever, that’s why we’re calling for Adani’s water licences to be cancelled” she said.