The main representative body for the Queensland minerals and energy sector has congratulated Adani Mining on reaching an important milestone in its proposed development of the A$16.5 billion, 60 Mt/y Carmichael coal mine and rail project in central Queensland’s Galilee Basin. Queensland Resources Council Chief Executive Michael Roche noted the Queensland Coordinator-General’s approval included 190 conditions surrounding construction and operational phases of the project. “By any measure, the Coordinator-General’s determination of the project’s credentials has been thorough and reflecting a new spirit of cooperation between the Newman and Abbott Governments in facilitating the growth of one of the country’s economic pillars”, Roche said.

He added: “Importantly, this is being done without compromising the world-leading environmental standards for which Australia is rightly recognised. The potential of this project to create up to 2,500 construction and 3,900 operational jobs represents a fantastic opportunity for the state and particularly the major industry service hubs in central and north Queensland. This is encouraging news for regional centres such as Emerald, Moranbah, Rockhampton, Mackay, Bowen and Townsville, which are looking to the Galilee Basin as a source of long-term employment and business opportunities.”

Roche said that despite the hard work and scientific rigour that had gone into the Carmichael project reaching the federal approval stage, he expected environmental activists would continue their campaign to ‘disrupt and delay’ major job-creating projects in Queensland. “As we have seen in recent days with an application by Friends of the Earth (aka Coast and Country Association) for a judicial review of the Alpha coal project determination in the Land Court, it’s a potentially long and frustrating road to realising the projects that Queensland and Australia need to secure future economic prosperity. Every day projects like these are delayed is another day without electricity and continuing poverty for 1.3 billion in the developing world”, Roche said.