‘Hysteria’ in report slammed
MINING giant Adani has rejected in full the findings of a controversial report crucial to the progress of its coal mine, alleging it still contains “false and inaccurate statements” and “hysterical claims”.
The Department of Environment and Science sent Adani the final version of an external review of its Blackthroated Finch Management Plan on Monday evening.
Adani has repeatedly called into question the independence of the external review, considering the “anti-coal sentiments” of review chair Professor Brendan Wintle. A draft of the external review, released last week, strongly recommended the project not proceed until Adani implemented a number of “enhancements” to the plan.
Adani had been offered a meeting with Prof Wintle via the Department of Environment (DES) in regard to the draft report, but the mining company turned this down and said it would work through the department instead for the panel’s consideration.
“To say we’re disappointed in the final version is an understatement,” an Adani spokeswoman said.
“The department has ignored the feedback that we provided to them last week on the plan and has not addressed the issues we raised.”
“The final report still contains false and inaccurate statements about the management plan, including hysterical claims on local extinction, which directly conflict with the scientific advice the Queensland and Australian governments have relied upon to date.
“We reject the report and its findings in their entirety.”
The DES in a statement said it had offered to meet with Adani to work through the panel’s final recommendations and progress any revisions necessary to the environmental plan.
According to Adani, not much has changed between the draft report and its final version.
“We note that one of the few things that has changed from the draft to the final version is the removal of formal references to the work of April Reside, a person who has been actively campaigning against the Carmichael Project for years,” the spokeswoman said.
The company said it remained committed to delivering the Carmichael mine.
The Black-throated Finch Management Plan is one of two environmental plans that need to be approved before operations can begin at the mine.
The Groundwater Dependent Ecosystem Management Plan, sent by the Federal Government to the CSIRO and Geoscience Australia for external review, will need to be signed off by both levels of government.