The ABC has reported on new peer-reviewed science that shows current open-cut mining at Adani’s Carmichael threatens the sacred Doongmabulla Springs on Wangan and Jagalingou land. 

Scientists have shown that the Springs are connected to aquifers that will likely be impacted by dewatering during open-cut mining at Adani’s Carmichael coal mine. The study, which has been published in a peer-reviewed international journal finds Adani’s mine is likely to divert water flows from the Springs, which are "more vulnerable to mining impacts than has been previously assumed".

The scientists worked for several years to painstakingly trace the sources of water for the Doongmabulla Springs. They found some of the water in the Springs is over 500,000 years old, and are fed by multiple aquifers, including some that are likely within the mine’s footprint. 

Adani have always insisted the sole source of water for the Springs is an underground aquifer called the Clematis Sandstone and so it would not be affected by Adani’s Carmichael mine — a conclusion that federal science agencies doubted. This fresh scientific evidence contradicts Adani’s claims and shows the risks to the Doongmabulla Springs have been underestimated.

In typically belligerent fashion, Adani has responded by launching an attack on the scientists, accusing them of bias and being anti-coal campaigners. Adani said their own extensive ‘independent’ research is contrary to the scientists’ findings. However, when the ABC asked if Adani could provide any of these studies, the company refused. 

The scientists have rubbished Adani’s attacks, pointing out their study is peer-reviewed, Government-funded, and they even offered to collaborate with Adani on the research. Matt Currell, a hydrogeologist and co-author of the study said, "If they (Adani) can find me a piece of research that's not paid for by their company that contradicts anything we said, and that is in a proper peer-reviewed international outlet, then I'm happy to read it and consider it." 

For over a decade, Wangan and Jagalingou people have warned about the extinction risk to the Doongmabulla Springs posed by Adani’s Carmichael coal mine. This new scientific evidence further vindicates these concerns and highlights the urgent need to shut down Adani’s mine before it permanently damages the ancient sacred Doongmabulla Springs.

What’s the bigger context?

The Doongmabulla Springs are an ancient water source of immense cultural and environmental significance. They have sustained life in an arid landscape since time immemorial. The Springs are the final resting place of the Mundangurra (the Rainbow Serpent) in Wangan and Jagalingou peoples’ ancestor dreaming and are central to Wangan and Jagalingou people’s cultural practices and spiritual beliefs. 

For over a decade, since Gautam Adani first proposed his mega Carmichael coal mine, Wangan and Jagalingou people and scientists have sounded the alarm about the extinction risk to the Doongmabulla Springs. But state and federal governments ignored these warnings and approved Adani’s mine anyway.

As Adani’s mining commenced, there were early signs that Adani would not comply with conditions relating to water. Adani’s own modelling showed that future underground coal mining would damage the Doongmabulla Springs and breach its approval conditions. Leading to the QLD Government imposing an Environmental Protection Order (EPO) that bans underground mining at Carmichael. 

Instead of withdrawing its application to pursue underground mining because of the unacceptable impacts this would have on the Doongmabulla Springs, Adani has instead been fighting the EPO in the courts.

Court documents from this case have revealed that CSIRO and GSA had warned the Queensland government that Adani is in breach of its environmental approval conditions and that Adani’s water modelling cannot provide confidence that open cut mining is not impacting on the Doongmabulla Springs. See ABC News reporting from May this year.

In 2023, lawyers representing Wangan and Jagalingou cultural custodians presented further expert evidence to the Queensland Government, showing open-cut mining operations were impacting the Springs. The evidence indicated Adani had polluted the springs with hydrocarbons, and caused a harmful drop in groundwater in breach of its environmental conditions. Based on this evidence, W&J’s lawyers requested the Queensland Department of Environment and Science (DES) issue an EPO to Adani to prevent open cut mining further impacting the Springs. The Queensland Government ignored this request.

Wangan and Jagalingou cultural custodians then launched a landmark legal action in the Queensland Supreme Court, claiming the state government had breached their human rights by failing to protect this most sacred site from harm.

Now, a new peer-reviewed study has further vindicated the concerns of Wangan and Jagalingou people by proving that the Springs are connected to aquifers that will be impacted by dewatering during open-cut mining at Carmichael. The evidence that open-cut mining threatens the Springs is overwhelming. 

While Wangan and Jagalingou people wait for their case against the Queensland Government to be heard, it is incumbent on the state and federal government to apply the precautionary principle and shut Adani’s mine down. And it is incumbent on all of us to stand with Wangan and Jagalingou people to protect their ancient culture from Adani’s destruction. 

As Senior Wangan and Jagalingou Cultural Custodian Adrian Burragubba says, “The actions of the Federal Government will determine whether the ancient story of these springs will be sung by future generations of the First Nations descendants, and they will be protected for the benefit of the Australian people at large; or whether the song will be broken by the destructive and unauthorised impacts of the Carmichael coal mine.”