Australia approves controversial expansion of coal port near Great Barrier Reef

Australia has approved a controversial expansion of the Abbot Point coal terminal in Queensland state, which environmentalists fear will damage the Great Barrier Reef but supporters say is needed to protect the sector from decline.

The expansion work will require dredging 1.1 million cubic metres of seabed near the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, which will then be disposed of on land to make way for what will become one of the world’s biggest export terminals for coal.

Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt issued the approval only after re-engineering reduced dredging by 97 per cent from the original proposal, according to a statement from Hunt’s office.

“All dredge material will be placed onshore on existing industrial land,” the spokesman said.

The work still requires approval from the Queensland state government, which is awaiting assurances that a giant coal mine owned by Indian conglomerate Adani Enterprises will proceed to the construction phase.

Anthony Lynham, Queensland’s development minister, said in a statement Adani still needed to demonstrate financial closure for its project before the port expansion is cleared by the state.

Adani has blamed opposition to its mine for delays in moving the US$7 billion project to the construction phase.