Lock the Gate Alliance has condemned a Queensland Government decision to again delay the payment deadline for Adani’s 10,800ML Suttor River water take.
Adani was originally due to pay $18.5 million for access to the water on July 1 2018, however a 12 month extension was granted.
That deadline has now been extended again, this time by two years to July 1 2021.
“This is further evidence that Adani is in no way financially prepared to put its money where its mouth is,” said Lock the Gate spokesperson Carmel Flint.
Ms Flint said the Queensland Government should have used the legal avenues available to cancel Adani’s water licence due to their failure to pay instead of extending the date.
“The licence contains a clause allowing the government to commence a show cause process if payment is not made by the due date, in order to cancel the licence,” she said.
“It’s very unfortunate the Qld Government didn’t take the opportunity to cancel this licence and reassess the water impacts on the graziers and waterways in Central Queensland.
“Adani has proved time and time again it cannot be trusted - we should not be giving the company a chance to put farmers’ water sources at risk.”
“It also raises the bigger question of where Adani are sourcing water for construction at its Central Queensland site.
“Adani need 3,358ML for the first year of construction, but with the North Galilee Water Scheme still not approved and certainly not built, it's unclear where the company is sourcing its water from.”