Flight to the Adani Carmichael mine site

There have been extended protests trying to prevent

the proposed huge Adani coal mine.

So I wanted to fly out and have a look.....

That's approximately the location of the Carmichael Mine site.

The orange dots are not existing mines, just known coal deposits.

Note that all the present coal mining is in the Bowen and nearby Basins. 

The Galilee Basin is a new area much farther west.

The Galilee Basin sits over the Great Artesian aquifer,

and that raises some concerns about the possible effects on the aquifer.

I don't know about all that, 

I just wanted to have a look at the area before they start digging.

These are the present mines in the Bowen Basin.

They run in a line about 500km long,

and for much of the way, one or more mines are visible from 2500ft.

Note that most of that coal is metallurgical, for use in smelting steel.

That's the only method now available for smelting the steel, 

so that coal is somewhat essential for industry,

and creates a long-life product.

As distinct from thermal coal used just for generating power,

for which there are alternatives..... 

The Adani mine would be for thermal coal for India.....

Sights seen along the way....

Some places it looks as bad as this....

Big machines digging big holes.

Drillers preparing holes for explosives.

 And this is the object of it all....

 Long trains are used to haul the coal to the ports for export.

 I do have concerns about what is left behind when the old mines are abandoned....

No real sign of any remedial work.

You can see erosion already cutting into that tailings pile.

I don't think Queensland has the regulations that insist on filling back in.

I understand that the Hunter Valley in NSW insists on more thorough restoration.

But those the landowners are wealthy hobby farmers and racehorse studs,

with enough high level connections and influence.

Not so for the farmers out here....

 They even left this old drag line behind....

These mines may be some of those flooded by a cyclone in 2008, and then abandoned.

That's excellent farming land all round, but the water is too salty for irrigation.

There's some very treacherous hazards here!

I suppose it's going to have to be security fenced forever, eh???

 I suppose this could be one use for some of those holes.

Landfill for garbage....

 Finally a view of the Galilee Basin countryside.

That's Adani's base camp in the centre.

Landed on their brand new airstrip, still smelling of fresh tar,

then peed on it to leave my mark and buzzed off quickly.

I do hope regulations are placed on Adani in advance,

to ensure that they do the right things by the aquifer and remediation,

but I'm not expecting much when I see the results of older coal mines......

Of course, doing Carmichael Mine won't destroy the Reef,

but on the other hand,

not doing Carmichael Mine won't save the Reef.....

Sadly, the worldwide momentum on global (ocean) warming 

isn't likely to be turned around soon enough....

John Gilpin

June 2019