A group of Australia's pre-eminent water scientists say a rare desert oasis may dry up under Adani's "flawed" protections for groundwater near its proposed Carmichael mine, in a scathing assessment days out from a crucial ruling on the plan.

Queensland's Department of Environment and Science is this week due to decide on Adani's groundwater management plan – one of the last remaining barriers to construction of the coal project.

Former federal environment minister Melissa Price granted approval for the highly contentious groundwater plan days out from the federal election campaign. This came despite CSIRO and Geoscience Australia raising concerns over the energy company's modelling and proposed management.

Doongmabulla Springs, which scientists say may be destroyed by the Adani coal mine. Credit:Dean Sewell

Adani's plan includes measures to prevent the Carmichael mine from damaging the nationally significant Doongmabulla Springs. The survival of numerous native animals and plant species depends on the wetland, located 7 kilometres south-west of the mine site in the Galilee Basin.