Aus court dismisses case challenging Adani mine approval

From Natasha Chaku Melbourne, Aug 29 (PTI) Indian mining giant Adani’s planto build one of the world’s largest coal mines in Australiacleared another legal hurdle today after a top court dismissedan environmental group’s plea for overturning the government’sapproval to the controversy-hit 21.7 billion dollar project. The Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) had argued inthe Federal Court that the former environment minister GregHunt failed to consider if the impact of burning coal andclimate pollution was in line with global obligations toprotect the Great Barrier Reef. Welcoming the decision, the Adani company said the rulinghad once again reinforced the stringency of the strict,science and evidence-based federal environmental approvalprocess governing its planned mine at Carmichael inQueensland’s Galilee Basin. "Over six years, there have been multiple approvalprocesses, some two years of cumulative community consultationand submissions as part of those processes, and over tenappeals and judicial processes brought on by activists," Adanisaid, adding that, "there can be no question that there hasbeen more than ample opportunity for consultation, input andappeal and for activists to have their say". Clearly, the time has come for the will of communities whoare crying out for these projects to proceed to have theirvoices heard not just those of activists from out of town, itsaid. Adani said it maintains its stance to deliver on its longterm future with Queensland, pending the resolution of a smallnumber of outstanding legal challenges. "As the company has previously indicated, if those issuesare finalised, construction can commence in 2017," it said. Reacting to the decision, ACF said it will not give up itsefforts to stop Adani’s project despite the court dismissingits challenge to the federal government’s approval. "Most Australians would be shocked that the government canlegally approve the biggest coal mine in Australia’s history,when this year the Great Barrier Reef has suffered the worstcoral bleaching on record — a direct result of globalwarming," ACF’s CEO Kelly O’Shanassy said. "If the Carmichael mine proceeds its coal will create 4.7billion tonnes of climate pollution over the proposed life ofthe mine, wiping out Australia’s efforts to reduce pollutionand contributing to more frequent and severe bleaching eventson the reef," O’Shanassy said. "It is extraordinary that in 2016 a Federal EnvironmentMinister can argue in court that a mega-polluting coal minewill have no impact on the climate and the Great BarrierReef," she said. Adani’s project has been hampered time and again since itslaunch six years ago. A federal court in August last year had revoked theoriginal approval due to environmental concerns. In Octoberlast year, the project got a new lease of life after theAustralian government gave its re-approval. PTI NC ASKASK