The Queensland Resources Council (QRC) has welcomed the news that the Abbot Point port expansion is one step closer with the referral for the revised dredging project now in the Federal Government’s hands.
This is another milestone in opening up one of the state’s great energy provinces, the Galilee Basin, and for Adani, to progress its Carmichael mine, North Galilee Basin rail and Abbot Point port project, QRC Chief Executive Michael Roche said.
The referral is now in the safe hands of the Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt, who will apply his usual forensic scrutiny before exercising his responsibilities under Federal environmental legislation.
The referral of the plans from the Palaszczuk Government is further welcome evidence that it is getting on with the job and has systematically been working its way through the task of getting projects in the Galilee Basin up and running.
Regional communities including Alpha, Clermont, Emerald, Bowen, Moranbah, Mackay, Rockhampton and Townsville are all expected to benefit from development of the so-far untapped resources in the Galilee Basin with thousands of jobs expected to flow during construction and operations, concluded Roche.