SPONSORED BYPage 1 •Fossil Fossil Fool Bulletin 1:50 • 13 November Fool 2018 KNITTING NANNAS AGAINST GAS Bulletin Fossil fools in the spotlight this week: A resource for people working to end the fossil fuel era in Australia Published by Eve Sinton • [email protected] FFB 1:50 • 13 NOVEMBER 2018 Departmental advice ignored when Adani water scheme ticked off The Federal Department of Envi- ronment and Energy ignored advice from Agriculture and Water Resourc- es officials when it approved Adani’s bid to use billions of litres of Suttor River water without an environmen- tal impact statement (EIS). Freedom of Information documents, obtained by Lock the Gate Alliance, show that the Department of Agricul- ture and Water Resources said Adani’s North Galilee Water Scheme (NGWS) water resources. could have a significant impact on A submission from the department states unequivocally that ‘The depart- ment considers the proposed action a water resource, in relation to coal couldseam gashave development a significant and impact(s) large coal on development, protected under the Lock the Gate is calling for the environment minister to reverse a decision granting EPBC Act’. Adani 12.5 billion litres of Suttor River water, after an FOI request revealed the proposal ‘could have significant impact’ on water resources. Significant impact ignored reveal Adani has been given a free run of these documents, and reverse the Despite that advice, the Department of to dodge crucial water assessments decision on the North Galilee Water Environment and Energy went ahead against the advice of the Department Scheme and instead require a full envi- and ruled the NGWS was not likely to of Agriculture and Water Resources. ronmental impact assessment in light of this new information. - “This raises massive questions over sources and an environmental impact the decision by the Department of En- “We also want to see an urgent inquiry haveassessment a significant was not impact required. on water re vironment last month to allow Adani into how and why it is that advice from A second FOI document shows Geosci- to take 12.5 billion litres of river water these two crucial agencies was effec- ence Australia found that Adani failed to run their mine, without any envi- tively ignored,” she said. to consider Groundwater Dependent ronmental impact assessment. Ecosystems in their referral on the “What is the point of the Department Department tried to hide documents NGWS, despite a large number of GDEs of Agriculture and Water Resources Lock the Gate was initially refused being mapped in the project distur- making a submission if it can just be bance area. access to these documents under FOI completely ignored? by the DoEE, but submitted an internal Ellie Smith, spokesperson for Lock “We’re calling for the Minister for review of that decision, which led to the Gate, said: “These documents Environment to step in now, in light • Continued p2 • P 3: LNG & transport • P 4: Narrabri marches • SUBSCRIBE FREE lead emissions growth against Santos & CSG https://knitting-nannas.org/bulletins.php Page 2 • Fossil Fool Bulletin 1:50 • 13 November 2018 Adani: Environment dept ignored water advice Rising heat extreme threat to Gold Coast Dramatic increases in extreme heat days, combined with high humidity and the urban heat island effect present an increasing threat to the health and wellbeing of Gold Coast residents. The Australia Institute’s new HeatWatch initiative, which uses CSIRO–BoM modelling, shows that the number of extreme heat days (over 35ºC) experienced on the Gold Coast could increase up to thir- The Suttor River is hundreds of kilometres inland from Mackay, Queensland. ty times current levels. Up to almost half summer nights • Continued from p1 According to the ABC, it is an argu- ment the company stands by. could remain above 25 degrees by the documents being released. 2090. Principal Solicitor of the Environmen- Adani responds Dangerous levels of heat stress said “These new documents raise development’ relates to impacts on “Increasing temperatures combined talserious Defenders questions Ofiice as Qld, to why Sean the Ryan water with high humidity are likely to impacts of this project are not being “Thewater-resources definition of activities ‘large coal that mining form part of the process to extract coal,” an push many days each year to dan- thoroughly assessed under federal gerous levels of heat stress,” says laws. Adani spokesperson said in a state- ment. Mark Ogge, Principal Adviser at The “The water trigger contained in the Australia Institute. Environment Protection and Biodiver- “This assessment already occurred in 2015 through the Environmental “This will have serious implications designed to deal with actions involving Impact Statement process [for the for the tourism industry that is such sitylarge Conservation coal mining projectsAct was specificallywith a sig- Carmichael mine]. an important part of the Gold Coast economy. “The pipeline is considered associated “It’s there to protect Australia’s pre- “Humidity of 80% is common on the nificant impact on a water resource. infrastructure, which is not part of the cious water resources, and make sure coal-extraction process and therefore Gold Coast. When that is combined that coal projects that impact them are does not require assessment under the with 35-degree temperatures, it is thoroughly assessed at a federal level. water trigger.” considered extremely dangerous to people’s health and can be lethal. “It is concerning that, in these circum- Warwick Giblin of consultancy OzEnvi- stances, the Department of Environ- ronmental, told the ABC that argument In the past, there have been very ment and Energy has decided that the made no sense. few days over 35 degrees, but if we project, and its water impacts, do not don’t reduce emissions, that will require thorough assessment through “Unequivocally, there is no mine unless change. it has access to water and I think it’s an Environmental Impact Statement,” “The Gold Coast’s built environment he said. rather cute [to] suggest that somehow this project – which is only triggered increases extreme temperature Adani successfully argued its water because of this mine proposal – is a risks, creating an urban heat island project was a standalone one, and not separate project,” he said. effect. This traps and increases tem- part of a coal-seam-gas or large-coal- peratures even more, particularly mining development. at night. Hot buildings without air-con a trap Friends of Felton “Most buildings in the region are dependent on air-conditioning. How a small farming community We know power plants fail in stood up to Big Coal and won heatwaves, increasing the risk of 3CR Community Radio The story of the success- blackouts. If this happens, people Earth Matters ful community campaign will be trapped in very hot buildings to stop Ambre Energy’s without air-conditioning. ‘Knitting Nanas against gas, coal coal-to-liquids operation and greed’, and other podcasts at Felton, on Queensland’s “Fortunately, this is not inevitable. about coal, oil and gas Darling Downs. CSIRO projections show that if we can be found at: take action and reduce emissions On sale via the facebook page: we can prevent virtually all of these Rob McCreath author ($21 + P&P). https://www.3cr.org.au/earthmatters rises.” https://www.facebook.com/mccreathrob/ Page 3 • Fossil Fool Bulletin 1:50 • 13 November 2018 LNG and transport lead growth in Australian emissions: Audit The Australia Institute’s Climate & solar equal to more than double the increased emissions over the past Energy Program has released the current output from Liddell power two years. It’s a growing and highly latest National Energy Emissions station. emissions intensive industry that Audit for the electricity sector (The uses unreliable emissions reduction • Wholesale electricity prices appear Audit) covering September 2018. technology like carbon capture and to have peaked in most states as a storage. The Audit shows that Australia’s emis- surge of new renewables come on-line. sions continue to increase, being driv- “There has also been a relatively large “This audit makes clear exactly which en by growing LNG exports, greater increase in diesel used for rail trans- sectors of the Australian economy are diesel use in transport and increases in port. It is important to remember the lifters and which are the lean- agriculture and waste emissions that much of Australia’s rail activity is ers when it comes to climate pollution devoted to transporting huge volumes and emissions,” says Richie Merzian, of coal from mine to port. Key findings: Director of the Australia Institute’s • LNG exports have become one of the Climate and Energy Program. “Thanks to strong growth in renew- ables, wholesale electricity prices have largest drivers of Australia’s emissions. “Emissions in electricity are dropping, peaked and are expected to maintain The biggest single source of emissions but in nearly every other sector emis- their downward trajectory into the from LNG is at the Gorgon project in sions are on the rise. Western Australia, equivalent to half of future. If the Government is serious Australia’s national increase in emis- about lowering emissions and power sions last year. LNG highly emissions intensive prices then it needs to recognise and “Increased LNG exports have been one support the role of renewables and • The next two years will see continu- of the largest drivers of Australia’s storage in our energy market.” ing rapid growth in both wind and Fixing the holes: LTG calls for mine rehab A new report estimates more than “We know that inadequate rehabilita- 1,200 new jobs could be generated in tion has far-reaching consequences, for but aiming to maximise progressive NSW if the state government was to example, the disturbed area of mines targetsrehabilitation, specific in to line each with mine industry operation implement mandatory progressive are a major source of particulate air best practice; rehabilitation targets.