Queensland Government's decisive action to progress Abbot Point expansion

The Queensland Resources Council (QRC) welcomes the Queensland Government’s decisive action for the onshore disposal of dredge material at Abbot Point coal terminal. Last week the government announced a new Abbot Point agreement between proponents Adani and GVK Hancock to place dredge material on vacant industrial land called T2.

QRC Chief Executive Michael Roche said the advancement of the Abbot Point expansion was another positive step forward to open up the Galilee Basin, which would benefit the state and the nation. “I applaud the Palaszczuk Government for coming to a decision on the Abbot Point expansion so swiftly after swearing in of the new Ministry,” Roche said.

“The proponents of the Abbot Point port development, in addition to current or future port proponents along the Queensland coast, would take comfort in the government’s positive approach to balancing industrial development and environmental protection that is important to our state’s economy and to the health of the Great Barrier Reef.

“Our ports and shipping operations operate under the highest standards in the world and we will always support decisions that are based on the best science in addition to enhancing social, economic and environmental outcomes.

“Queenslanders across the state will benefit from this decision as the Galilee Basin mine-rail-port projects will create jobs and create economic development. This positive progress on the Abbot Point port project is particularly good news for the people of Bowen.”

Regional communities including Alpha, Clermont, Emerald, Bowen, Moranbah, Mackay, Rockhampton and Townsville are all expected to benefit from development of the so-far untapped resources in the Galilee Basin.

“This port is vital to the future of opening up the Galilee Basin and the tens of thousands of jobs that will result, in addition to the royalties that will flow from coal exports,” Roche said.

“Coal provides more than 40% of the world’s electricity and is predicted to soon overtake oil as the largest source of primary energy.”

Despite the progress made today, reef activists, The Australian Marine Conservation Society, is not satisfied and has called on the government to halt the expansion altogether.

“The dredging project is being funded by the project proponents (not the government) and is an essential pre-condition to getting these huge job-generating projects underway,” Roche concluded.

Since obtaining a 99-year lease of the X50 Abbot Point Coal Terminal, Adani identified the need to increase terminal capacity. It proposed a 70 Mt/y expansion of the existing terminal, along with an additional two offshore berths.