By News Desk
Melbourne: A new report written with Tom Crothers, former general Manager of Water Planning and Allocation for Queensland, slams the state and federal governments for failing to properly assess the potentially devastating impacts on groundwater of 9 huge coal mega-mines planned for central Qld’s Galilee Basin, including several Indian owned mines.
Mr Crothers calls on the state and federal governments to SUSPEND ANY FURTHER COAL MINE APPROVALS in the Galilee Basin until rigorous cumulative water studies are completed.
The 30 million tonne per annum Indian / Australian GVK HANCOCK ALPHA mine, the first coal mine approved in the Galilee Basin, is currently being challenged by landholders in the Qld Land Court. Water impacts are one of the main grounds on which the objector landholders (farmers) are seeking to have approval overturned. See this infographic.
The 30 million tonne GVK HANCOCK KEVIN’S CORNER mine, the second mine approved in the Basin (approved at state level at this stage), will be the first coal mine in Australia assessed under the new federal Environmental Protection “water trigger”.
Tom Crothers said,”I have grave concerns about the potential impacts of the proposal mines in the Galilee Basin on the region’s groundwater supplies. …The impact assessments undertaken by the mine proponents and the Queensland Government are inadequate and I fully support the report’s conclusion that further coal mining approvals should be suspended until the recommended water studies and transparent co-ordinated planning have been completed”.
Other mines currently seeking approval in the Galilee Basin include Indian giant Adani’s 60 million tonne per annum CARMICHAEL mine, and Clive Palmer’s 40 million tonne per annum ‘China First’ project (now known as Galilee Coal.
The report, Draining the lifeblood: the impact of Galilee Basin coal mining on groundwater resources, finds that:
· The 9 coal mega mines will comprise over 34 open cut pits and 11 underground mines along a 270 kilometre north-south strike, to produce over 300 million tonnes of coal per annum.
· An estimated two and half ‘Sydney Harbours’ of groundwater, equating to 1,354 billion litres, will be permanently lost as a result of water being pumped out or drained by the proposed mines.
· This will result in the livestock and household supplies from hundreds of water bores on adjoining properties being put at risk, along with the Qld towns of Alpha and Jericho.
· There is risk of interference with the one of Australia’s most important water assets, the Great Artesian Basin.
The report exposes the failure of the Queensland and Federal Governments to assess the cumulative impacts of the mines or to heed warnings about the risk of impacts on the Great Artesian Basin.
