Adani hurdle crumbles

ADANI’S bid to build a more cost- effective railway into the Galilee Basin has potentially helped the company avoid an indigenous cultural heritage dispute.

The Indian mining giant announced on Thursday it would no longer build a 388km standard gauge rail link from its Abbot Point coal terminal into the mine.

Instead, it will build a 200km narrow gauge line from the Galilee Basin, which would link into Aurizon’s existing line just north of Eaglefield.

The new line design still travels through two traditional owner areas – Jangga people and Wangan and Jagalingou people, but it no longer crosses Birri or Juru land.

In June, members of Juru Enterprise Limited – an indi- genous corporation that represents the interests of the Juru people – alleged Adani’s proposed rail line crossed through cultural heritage sites.

JEL members said cultural heritage work related to the rail project carried out by the Townsville- based Kyburra Munda Yalga Aboriginal Corporation was invalidated by a High Court ruling against Kyburra.

But Adani maintained all land use agreements remained valid.

Now that the mining company has abandoned its plan to build part of the line through Native Title land held by Juru people, the dispute has become redundant.

Adani Mining chief executive Lucas Dow said all existing agreements with landholders would remain in place “without question”.

It is understood Adani has not yet submitted a formal application for access to connect to the Aurizon line.

An Aurizon spokesman told the Bulletin the company did not comment on commercial discussions.

Meanwhile, Northern Australia and Resources Minister Matt Canavan yesterday accused Herbert MP Cathy O’Toole of opposing coal mining because of her “refusal” to speak in support of the Adani project.

“She won’t say a word, let alone stand up for the families and workers of North Queensland, because her personal political fortunes rely on preferences from the radical Greens,” he said.

But Ms O’Toole hit back at the allegations from Senator Canavan and denied ever having declined to speak about Adani.

“That’s actually not true,” she said. “I think quite clearly what people have failed to understand about my stance is that even the most ardent supporters have never ever supported one cent of taxpayer dollars going to a billion- dollar company.”