More than eighty local farmers and graziers attended a public event at the Gracemere Saleyards to call for the protection of groundwater resources.
The public forum, held in Australia’s beef capital highlighted the potential groundwater impacts of the development of nine mega mines in the Galilee Basin, including the Adani project.
Keynote speaker, former general manager of water allocation and planning with the QLD Government, Tom Crothers told the crowd; “In the last 5 years of my career I worked in the public service as the leader in the development of Queensland’s policy for water allocation.
“I am extremely disappointed at the policy framework the Queensland and Commonwealth governments have used to progress the approvals for the Adani Mine.”
Mr Crothers warned the industry that proposed developments in the Galilee Basin posed serious potential long term risks to water security in central and western Queensland.
“There is a lack of transparency, engagement and integrity in governments dealings with primary producers who will be impacted by these 9 proposed mines. ‘They haven’t treated those land holders with any respect at all.”
Central Queensland organic beef producer and event facilitator Mick Alexander said “Agriculture employs nearly 60,000 Queenslanders. We export more than $9 billion worth of agriculture products every year and are the backbone of this region.
“Here in Central Queensland, many graziers are utterly reliant on access to groundwater for stock, and much of this state is struggling through a fifth consecutive year of drought. That’s why we saw so many worried faces at the forum last night.”
Farmers for Climate Action Queensland Coordinator, Michael Kane said, “Central Queensland is sending a very clear message to our politicians. It’s time to stand up for the long term future of sustainable agriculture and protect our precious groundwater”
The meeting unanimously supported the following motion:
”Adani’s Carmichael coal mine, and eight other proposed mega-mines, put at risk water resources that are the lifeblood of Central Queensland.
We call on Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, the Minister for the Environment Leanne Enoch and Minister for Mines Anthony Lynham to cancel Adani’s water license to protect our fragile water resources for future generations.”