Indian mining giant Adani has been hit with a fresh lawsuit, as environmental groups challenge the Carmichael coal project’s environmental authority.
Conservation group Coast and Country has challenged the State Government’s decision earlier this year to grant Adani a mining lease for the proposed $21.7b Carmichael coal project.
Environmental Defenders Office Queensland (EDO Qld) has filed a challenge to a state approval of the Adani Carmichael coal mine on behalf of community group, Coast and Country.
“On behalf of our community client, Land Services of Coast and Country, we have filed an application for judicial review of the decision to grant Adani Mining Pty Ltd an Environmental Authority under the Environmental Protection Act 1994 (Qld) in the Queensland Supreme Court,” EDO Qld CEO and solicitor Jo Bragg said.
“Our client’s case is that the decision by the Queensland Environment Department to issue an Environmental Authority to Adani for the Carmichael mine was not in compliance with the law.
“An examination of the Department’s reasons for making the decision has revealed the Department failed to comply with s 5 of the EP Act.”
Ms Bragg highlighted Section 5 of the EP Act, which places a mandatory duty on decision makers to best achieve the ecologically sustainable development purpose of the Act.
“This is vital because it ensures that Queensland’s environment is protected while allowing for development that improves total quality of life, both now and in the future, in a way that maintains the ecological processes on which life depends,” she said.
The project has been delayed in courts for almost six years, has also been recently challenged by the mine site’s traditional owners, the Wangan and Jagalingou people.
Last month, Queensland Parliament announced it’s support for the approval of Adani’s $21.7 billion Carmichael Coal project.
Add Comment