“The Isaac region itself spans over 58,000 square kilometres and stretches from the coast to the outback." Loading The Isaac region has a permanent population of about 22,000 residents but mining swells its part-time workforce. “On any given night there can be upwards of 11,000 non-resident workers staying in our region,” she says. “Predominantly they’re mining and resource industry workers coming in and out.”

Adani says its project will generate more than 1500 direct jobs but the Australia Institute, a noted opponent, points to industry analysts' expectations the mine would displace demand for coal elsewhere in Australia. Queensland Greens MP Michael Berkman has radically called for mine workers to begin work in mine rehabilitation instead of opening new mines. Clermont's Capella Street, the town's main street. “There are 15,000-odd mine sites across Queensland,” Mr Berkman said. “Those mine rehabilitation jobs are good solid jobs.

"They require largely the same skills as mining and they are right in those regional communities that need the jobs most. "That work is something the Queensland government should look to inspire." Greens MP Michael Berkman wants mine workers to work in mine rehabilitation. The Greens want to keep all thermal coal in the ground after 2050. Cr Baker disagrees. She said most city people had little idea of what life in a mining region was like.

Loading “There are currently 26 active coal mines in the region,” she said. “But people could be forgiven for thinking there is only one. “Those 26 coal mines produce half of the state’s coal and it’s largely metallurgical coal.” Metallurgical coal is used in the manufacture of steel. It is low-ash, low-sulfur and low-phosphorus coal that can be used to produce high-grade steel.

Adani’s Carmichael mine – if the final very strict environmental guidelines can be met – will be the Galilee Basin’s newest mine. Cr Baker said the Isaac Regional Council still had some infrastructure agreements to finalise with Adani but "we will keep working with them on that.” Those agreements stop Isaac’s ratepayers having to pay for the damage caused by big trucks to their roads, as one example. The mine would be good for Clermont, good for the Isaac Regional Council and good for Queensland, Cr Baker said. “The announcements that have come today have got to be welcomed,” she said, on Friday.

“Clarity around the state government approvals can only good. Once we have got that, everybody can move on.” Loading She was particularly happy to hear Adani chief executive Lucas Dow commit to not "flying in" the majority of workers for the mine, a stance that would also benefit small towns of Moranbah, Nebo and the regional centre, Mackay. Clermont hopes to be nominated under new Queensland government measures - the Strong and Sustainable Resource Communities legislation - that identify regional towns that might be impacted by big resource industry projects.

“What we are looking forward to is being nominated as the nearest populated centre under this legislation,” Cr Baker said. Loading The legislation means towns of more than 200 residents within 125 kilometres of a project may receive extra resources to help them cope with the changes. Clermont is just outside the 125-kilometre limit but Queensland's Co-ordinator General can now nominate small towns as the “nearest populated centre” to a mine. “It means that if you are inside the radius, the mine company must look at your town for employment,” Cr Baker said.

“That can only be beneficial for Clermont and for the Isaac Region.” Michael Berkman does not approve of the Carmichael Mine and says Adani has not specifically identified the source of artesian springs that feed water to the ancient Doongmabulla Springs. Doongmabulla Springs, south-west of the proposed Carmichael mine. Mr Berkman wants Adani to complete further seismic testing to protect the nearby Doongmabulla springs home to five threatened and endangered vegetation species. He said Adani needed to satisfy an environmental condition that the “drawdown” on the springs not exceed 20 centimetres.

“Adani’s own modelling at the springs indicated that a drawdown of 19 centimetres was a possibility,” he said. Mr Berkman said Adani’s own experts conceded at the Queensland Land Court hearings that a small reduction in artesian water from the springs could cause the springs to dry up. “The fundamental question they haven’t answered is: what is the source aquifer of the Doongmabulla Springs?” he said. “It has been asked by CSIRO. It's been asked by Geoscience Australia and it has been a live question for four or five years now. “Adani still has not done the work they need to do to answer the question.”