The Queensland Government is reportedly ready to grant Adani a water licence for its proposed Carmichael coal mine despite the opposition of farming communities and revelations in recent months of Adani’s appalling overseas environmental track record.
Grazier Bruce Currie has just returned from an Adani fact-finding tour of India.
“In India, I met and spoke with communities living around Adani’s operations who had their groundwater polluted by Adani. I also met with primary producers whose crops were damaged by the Adani company’s clear disregard for environmental impacts,” Mr Currie said.
“I am highly concerned about Queensland’s water security and even more so since meeting farmers in Adani’s home state of Gujarat.
“My community and I understand how vital it is for the community to be involved in the granting of a water licence, and have taken the fight to protect our groundwater to court.
“However, in November last year the Queensland Government changed water laws to give Adani a special exemption. The community is cut out of this process and the right of appeal for communities and landholders has been stripped away.”
Bruce Currie and his community have been active in opposing GVK Hancock mines to save their groundwater and are concerned about the impacts Adani’s coal mine will have on their farming businesses if it goes ahead.
Image: Abbot Point Terminal. Image by Tom Jefferson