Abbot Point Coal Terminal under investigation after satellite images show water release

Updated

Satellite imagery appearing to show sediment-laden water flowing into wetlands from the nearby Abbot Point Coal Terminal has prompted an investigation by Queensland's Department of Environment and Heritage Protection.

Adani was granted a temporary emissions licence (TEL) to help it manage water on the site during Tropical Cyclone Debbie.

A spokesman for Adani said the company had been in constant contact with the department prior to and since Cyclone Debbie.

But the department became aware of the satellite images last week and is looking into whether there had been any unauthorised releases of water from the terminal into the Caley Valley Wetlands.

A department spokesperson said sites such as Abbot Point Coal Terminal, run by Adani, were allowed to release water of suitable quality under certain conditions of their environmental authority.

During major weather events sites can apply for a TEL to allow temporary changes to the conditions of an environmental authority.

The department's initial monitoring indicated Adani's releases to the wetland were in accordance with the TEL conditions.

The Adani spokesman said the company had applied for the appropriate licence and it was granted.

"The department has been conducting ongoing water tests which show that to date there has been no breach of the licence conditions," he said.

He said Adani had been advised there had been no water flow from its site into the sea.

Peter McCallum from the Mackay Conservation Group said it had written to Environment Minister Steven Miles to request more information about the release.

"We have no confidence that Adani will be able to manage the environmental impacts of the port expansion or any other aspect of its massive coal mining operation," Mr McCallum said.

The department will continue to monitor the situation.

The wetlands are important habitat for at least 22 migratory shore birds listed under the national environmental legislation.

Topics: mining-environmental-issues, environment, mackay-4740, qld, whitsundays-4802, bowen-4805

First posted