Stop Adani Mackay and the Mackay Conservation Group joined groups from across Australia in a #waterislife roadside protest last weekend. 

In drought stricken Queensland, water is one of our most precious resources, and the Adani Carmichael mine directly threatens the water sources that thousands of farmers and regional communities rely on. 

With a track record of environmental destruction in India, the Adani company cannot be trusted with our water. 

Water is life - and Mackay locals are going to keep fighting to protect Queensland's water!

If you would like to keep up to date with Stop Adani Mackay, like their Facebook Page or contact Maggie on 0434837774 or by emailing [email protected] 

As you would have seen in the media, the Qld Government is making dodgy deals with Adani. The new deal on royalties is being kept hidden from the public. Queenslanders are not being told the details of this deal, let alone how much it is going to cost them.

Prior to the 2015 election, the current Qld Government promised that "Adani must ensure its project is viable in an open, competitive marketplace. Labor will not do any secret deals." But yesterday the Qld premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, did just that, she signed a secretive royalties deal that could cost the State hundreds of millions of dollars in public funds, dressed as a ‘loan’ for the first five years of the mine’s operation, in Central Queensland. How much Adani is expected to pay and how much they will actually pay back, is in a realm of uncertainty. Exactly what this deal entails, only Adani and the Qld Government knows.

Some of our regional businesses have invested in rooftop solar energy and are reaping the rewards. Langfords Hotel, Porters Cannonvale, MacDonald & Murphy are among the businesses that are benefiting from solar installations. 

Most businesses in Mackay use most of their electricity during daylight hours so solar is a great option. Large users of electricity are slugged with an extra tariff, called a demand charge, when they exceed a threshold average consumption per month. By installing solar they can reduce average consumption and avoid the extra tariff. Even small businesses can cut electricity bills to almost zero by installing solar.

It makes real economic sense for all businesses to consider renewable energy. The investment will pay for itself in five or six years and most installations are guaranteed for 20 years. There are many great environmental reasons to consider installing solar power but the economics alone should be enough to convince you. However there is a long way to go to make our businesses ecologically friendly.

Sign our 100% renewable energy petition to Malcolm Turnbull

Mackay Conservation Group supports a Queensland mining project worth at least $7.3 billion that has been approved by the state government and the mining companies involved have already committed to. Sound a bit weird? It’s not really, the project is mine rehabilitation. 

The Queensland government currently holds over $7 billion in Financial Assurance to fund the clean-up of mines if mining companies fail. We estimate that that level of funding would easily create 2,000 direct jobs for ten years and many could commence today if rehabilitation was undertaken progressively rather than waiting until mining is completed. The reality is however that mining companies have been delaying mine rehabilitation and, in some cases, have no plan to rehabilitate land at all.

Across Queensland there are 220,000 hectares disturbed by mining operations but only 556 hectares that have been fully rehabilitated. Today, only one twelfth of mined land has had some rehabilitation work done. In 2006 that figure was one third.

The Queensland Government has recently issued two discussion papers on mine rehabilitation. They are the first of six papers that will be released for public comment in coming months. Mackay Conservation Group and Lock the Gate have been working on reforming the mine rehabilitation sector since 2015. We have raised questions about the extent and quality of rehabilitation in public and in private discussions with government, academics and the mining industry. The papers look at the method of funding bonds paid by mining companies and the way that rehabilitation is planned.

Adani is actively hiding the truth about its coal-pollution of the Caley Valley Wetlands that occurred during Cyclone Debbie, says Mackay Conservation Group’s Coordinator who last week visited the area, accompanied by independent and government scientists and departmental staff, at the invitation of the office of the Queensland Environment Minister Mr Steven Miles.

Coordinator of the Mackay Conservation Group, Mr Peter McCallum said,  “Last week we observed coal pollution in the sediment in the sensitive Caley Valley Wetlands, on the edge of the wetlands and on the floor of the wetlands, and in the area close to the spillway where the discharge occurred from the secondary settlement pond.

“Unfortunately, the site visit was very tightly managed by Adani and North Queensland Bulk Ports to stop us gathering photographic evidence, despite an assurance before the visit that we would be able to take photos and collect samples.

“NQBP staff told us on entry that we could not take photos, collect samples or leave the group to explore the site. They warned that if we breached these conditions we’d be immediately escorted off the site and deposited alone, on the side of the isolated Bruce Highway.

Mackay Conservation Group, which last week joined government scientists on a site visit to Adani’s Abbot Point facility where it was evident Adani had allowed coal to pollute the sensitive Caley Valley wetlands during Cyclone Debbie, say the wholesale breach of Adani’s pollution license shows the company cannot be trusted to operate in Australia

Coordinator of the Mackay Conservation Group, Mr Peter McCallum said, “Even with a license to pollute in its back pocket, Adani has still managed to exceed the permitted discharge of contaminants by 800 per cent. This is one more sign Adani’s mine should not proceed

“This breach isn't a minor one. It's equivalent to driver travelling at over 300km/h in a school zone

“Adani have been found to be operating a coal terminal in a cyclone-prone area that cannot withstand a cyclone without risk of contaminating the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area and the Caley Valley Wetlands.

Press release from 5 August 2015

ADANI CARMICHAEL COURT DEFEAT NO MERE TECHNICALITY

Court cases reveal deep flaws in modelling, devastating impacts

Indian coal giant Adani, the mining industry and the Federal Environment Minister are wrong to characterise today’s Federal court decision as a ‘technical glitch’, when it is symptomatic of deep flaws with the Carmichael proposal that have only been revealed through proper court scrutiny, said Ms Ellen Roberts, Coordinator of Mackay Conservation Group.

‘Australia’s environmental laws protect our unique natural heritage, which brings millions of visitors each year to this country, makes a major contribution to our economy, and is a source of pride for all Australians,’ said Mackay Conservation Group Research Analyst Patricia Julien.

‘Brandis wants mining companies, and the Federal government, to be above the law. He wants to dodge environmental protections put in place to protect Australia’s unique wildlife.

‘George Brandis’ comments today show just how far the government is willing to go to protect the interests of mining companies.

BREAKING NEWS – we just won our court case against Adani’s Carmichael mine!

If built, the proposed Carmichael mine would have been Australia’s largest coal mine exporting up to 60 million tonnes  of coal from across the Great Barrier Reef Coast every year.

In July 2014 the Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt approved the Carmichael mine and in January this year we launched or challenge of the mine arguing that the impacts of the project on the climate and threatened species had not been properly addressed.

Minister Hunt has now admitted that he didn’t adequately consider the impact on the yakka skink and the ornamental snake, two vulnerable species impacted by the mine. You can read the full media release here.

Can you call on him to reject the mine once and for all?

This is a historic win for the Climate, fragile ecosystems in western Qld and the Great Barrier Reef.

This victory would not have been possible without the support of the NSW Environmental Defenders Office and everyone who has donated to the case and helped highlight the impacts of this devastating mine on our Reef, the climate and the unique biodiversity of Western Queensland.

What happens now?

The mine is now without legal authority to commence construction or operate. It is up to Minister Hunt to decide whether or not to approve the mine again, taking into account the conservation advices and any other information on the impacts of the project. The Carmichael mine is back on his desk, and he has the power now to end this disastrous project forever.

Will you tell Greg Hunt not to reject the Carmichael mine once and for all?

The mine has been rejected by the court – now its time for Minister Hunt to reject it for good.

Here’s our top three reasons why the Carmichael project should be rejected:

1. As Australia’s largest coal mine, it will make an unacceptable contribution to greenhouse gasses and climate change
2. The Carmichael mine will use over 12 billion litres of water per year, draining precious underground water sources
3. The Carmichael mine will not yield the promised jobs or royalties for Queensland. Net jobs for the project (taking into account job losses in other industries) will be as low as 1464 and Adani has exaggerated income from royalties from the Carmichael mine.

You can write to Minister Hunt by following this link. He needs to hear from the community.

For a detailed explanation of the case background, the grounds of our challenge and new information about the impacts of the Carmichael mine, please download our background document.

Critical new information may halt Carmichael mine

The Mackay Conservation Group has submitted critical new information in the Federal Court in Sydney amending their challenge to Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt’s approval of the Carmichael mine in Central Queensland.

The group argues that in approving Carmichael, Minister Hunt failed to consider conservation advices for two vulnerable species likely to be significantly impacted by the project, the ornamental snake and the yakka skink. ing their challenge to Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt’s approval of the Carmichael mine in Central Queensland.

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/jun/16/greg-hunt-ignoring-advice-on-danger-to-wildlife-from-carmichael-coalmine