The Government of Queensland in Australia has rejected Adani Mining’s plan to protect the population of an endangered bird species in the state.
The Queensland Department of Environment and Science’s decision will delay the company’s controversy-hit Carmichael coal mine project in the state indefinitely.
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According to media reports, the department did not approve of the company’s Black-Throated Finch Management Plan, which encompasses initiatives to protect the southern species around the Carmichael coal mine site.
The company now needs to submit a revised plan on finch protection, based on a list of changes provided by the Department of Environment and Science.
Adani Mining CEO Lucas Dow said: “After receiving this advice from the Queensland Environment Department late yesterday, we are now feverishly working through their new requests.
“Although we believe the current version of the Black-Throated Finch Management Plan already meets our project conditions, we are not going to be pig-headed about it and we will review the feedback from the Queensland Department and respond accordingly.”
The Black-Throated Finch Management Plan has been under review by the department for more than 18 months, within which it suggested seven revisions. The latest one will be the eighth round of revision.
Alongside the Black-Throated Finch Management Plan, Adani Mining awaits approval of the Groundwater Dependent Ecosystem Management Plan.
Earlier this month, the company received preliminary approval of its Groundwater Dependent Ecosystem Management Plan, which is now subject to approval from the Queensland government.
Situated in the North Galilee Basin and more than 300km from the Queensland coastline, the Carmichael project has been subject to multiple controversies over its economic viability and environmental impacts.
In its first stage, the mine is expected to produce 27.5 million tonnes of coal per annum.
