The Australian Conservation will;argue that the water to be extracted by Adani is essential to the coal mine.Credit:ROB HOMER
Large coal mines require federal approval if they are likely to have a significant impact on a water resource. This is known as the water trigger,and it means projects undergo a higher level of scrutiny than that applied by local and state assessments,including input from an independent expert scientific committee.
Adani had claimed the water trigger appliesonly to water used in the extraction of coal,and should therefore not be applied to its plan,which it calls the North Galilee Water Scheme.
Coal mines can use water to wash coal,suppress dust,cool down equipment and reduce the risk of fires.
The Suttor River in central Queensland.Credit:Christine Carlisle
The Department of the Environment and Energy has previously defended the decision,saying"stand-alone proposals which involve only associated infrastructure,such as pipelines,are not captured by the water trigger because they do not directly involve the extraction of coal".
The Australian Conservation Foundation,represented by Environmental Defenders Office Queensland,will argue Ms Price made an error of law in not applying the water trigger. It says the pipeline would not be built if not for the mine,and is essential to its operation.