CSIRO were asked to respond to a series of questions relating to the groundwater management plan relating to the proposed Adani coal mine. Within three days of receiving CSIRO's response, Adani have addressed any concerns and made their proposal to the Queensland Government for approval. It is not clear whether the public will see either CSIRO's or Adani's documents.
Independently, a group of concerned scientists (myself included) have reviewed the existing literature and data. Our findings (which are with the Queensland Government) include:
Our documents can be downloaded from the links below:
Independently, a group of concerned scientists (myself included) have reviewed the existing literature and data. Our findings (which are with the Queensland Government) include:
- Adani appears likely to have significantly under-estimated future impacts to the Doongmabulla Springs Complex (DSC) arising from the Carmichael Mine.
- Should the Carmichael Mine cause springs within the DSC to cease flowing, this impact may be irreversible.
- The safeguard against DSC impacts proposed by Adani, namely Adaptive Management, is unsuitable and unlikely to protect the DSC from severe degradation or cessation of flow.
- Possible cumulative impacts to the DSC from other mining activities in the Galilee Basin have not been adequately considered.
- Analysis of available hydrochemical data suggests that samples from the Doongmabulla springs are statistically more consistent with waters from the deeper Permian aquifers (that will be dewatered in the mining process)
Our documents can be downloaded from the links below:

positionpaper.pdf |

positionpaperappendix.pdf |

hydrochemicaldataanalysis.pdf |