Govt welcomes Abbot Point decision

The Palaszczuk Government welcomes the Commonwealth Government’s decision to approve the final environmental impact statement for the Abbot Point Growth Gateway Project.

State Development Minister Dr Anthony Lynham said the decision meant that if one or more of the proposed Galilee Basin coal mine projects go ahead, the port could be developed to allow increased exports.

“The approval is another milestone towards realising the jobs and economic benefits that developing the Galilee Basin could bring to Queensland, while continuing to protect the Great Barrier Reef,” he said.

“As I have said previously, there will be no dredging at the port until Adani demonstrates financial closure.”

The EIS followed the Palaszczuk Government’s move earlier this year to meets its election commitments to protect the nationally-significant Caley Valley wetlands and ban sea dumping of capital dredged material. 

Dredge spoil is to be placed on land on the site known as T2, adjacent to the existing coal terminal, not on the Caley Valley wetlands or within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.

Dr Lynham said the EIS approved today found that there would be no significant residual impacts on matters of national environmental significance, including the Great Barrier Reef.

The EIS was open for public consultation for four weeks and more than 55 000 submissions were received.

This is the last Commonwealth approval under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 for the proposed Carmichael coal mine and rail project in the Galilee Basin.

ENDS             22 December, 2015

Media inquiries:      Jan Martin   0439 341 314