New agreement reached for the expansion of Abbot Point

ADANI, GVK and the Queensland Government have come to an agreement for the expansion of the Abbot Point Coal Terminal.

The agreement is in relation to an onshore dredge disposal option that ensures Adani’s plan for delivering 10,000 jobs and $22 billion in taxes and royalties proceeds in line with previously advised timelines.

The agreement is consistent with Adani’s clear commitment to work with both sides of politics to deliver jobs and infrastructure in Queensland.

Adani CEO and Country Head, Jeyakumar Janakaraj said today’s announcement in Townsville by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and State Development Minister Dr Anthony Lynham showed the strong emphasis the state government had placed early in its term on securing jobs for the state.

“I welcome today’s announcement because it demonstrates the priority the government has placed from the outset on ensuring economic development proceeds in Queensland subject to robust environmental standards”, Mr Janakaraj said.

The expansion of the port at Abbot Point lies at the heart of Adani’s mine, rail and port projects in Queensland. The port, previously the subject of strictly regulated dredging campaigns, has operated safely and without incident for thirty years.
Like previously concluded, well managed dredging campaigns at the port, it will be considerably smaller than those at comparable ports in Queensland, at 1.05 million cubic metres of dredged material for Adani’s component of the dredging, or between a third and a fifth of what some commentators have claimed is being sought.

Ms Palaszczuk said the agreement reached would see dredge spoil dumped on land on the site known as T2, adjacent to the existing coal terminal, not on the Caley Valley wetlands or within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.

“I’ve always said I support the responsible and sustainable development of the Galilee Basin and Abbot Point, and the agreement we’ve reached demonstrates that,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“Today my Government sends a clear message: we can protect the Great Barrier Reef, and we can foster economic development and create jobs.

“I am determined to deliver on my election commitments, and that includes no dumping of capital dredge spoil in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, no dumping of dredge material in the nationally-significant Caley Valley wetlands, and no taxpayer funding for capital dredging and the disposal of dredge spoil.

The Queensland Resources Council (QRC) welcomes the Queensland Government’s decisive action for the onshore disposal of dredge material at Abbot Point coal terminal.

QRC Chief Executive Michael Roche said the advancement of the Abbot Point expansion was another positive step forward to open up the Galilee Basin, which would benefit the state and the nation.

“I applaud the Palaszczuk Government for coming to a decision on the Abbot Point expansion so swiftly after swearing in of the new Ministry,” Mr Roche said.

“The proponents of the Abbot Point port development, in addition to current or future port proponents along the Queensland coast, would take comfort in the government’s positive approach to balancing industrial development and environmental protection that is important to our state’s economy and to the health of the Great Barrier Reef.

“Our ports and shipping operations operate under the highest standards in the world and we will always support decisions that are based on the best science in addition to enhancing social, economic and environmental outcomes.”