An environmental protection organisation is considering a fresh legal challenge against Adani’s planned Carmichael coalmine in Queensland.
The challenge centres around the potential impact the mine will have on the population of the endangered black-throated finch.
New advice has found the federal environment minister’s approval of the mine was potentially unlawful, following new scientific evidence of the impact on the finch.
As most of the remaining habitat for the bird will be destroyed, Adani has been required to create “offsets” which provide an alternate habitat.
Experts say the company’s plans for managing the birds and creating the offsets will result in a net loss of habitat for the birds.
The Environmental Defenders Office of QLD says the minister’s approval of the mine is inconsistent with the recovery plan.
A spokesperson for Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg says the approval went through an “extremely rigorous” process.
