The Queensland Government’s decision to grant an unlimited water licence to Adani for its proposed Carmichael coal mine for 60 years is risky and senseless, says Lock the Gate Alliance.
“This is a licence to damage the agricultural businesses that rely on Central Queensland’s groundwater resources,” Carmel Flint from Lock the Gate said.
“Adani is getting free reign to suck up as much groundwater as it wants until 2077, with no independent review during those 60 long years.
“This is a coal mine that is estimated to extract as much as 9,500 million litres of groundwater each year.
“The Queensland Government has failed to set a limit on the impacts to important aquifers, the Dunda Beds and Clematis Sandstone.
“Instead the government is letting Adani decide on acceptable limits in a report it’s meant to supply some time down the track.
“The licence was approved in secret without any opportunity for local farmers or communities to comment on it.
“The legal rights of local farmers to appeal against it were mostly stripped away by the Queensland Government last year.
“Make no mistake - this is another special deal for Adani that hangs Queensland farmers out to dry,” Ms Flint said.